Amina, Bosnie Herzégovine

« From the first moment, I knew it will not be just about crossing the sea, but also about overcoming personal barriers. The stay on the boat was challenging from the very first day. I believe most of us reflected deeply on our lives that first evening when seasickness struck and we all found ourselves sick and weak. Maybe that was exactly what we needed, a kind of reset.

After that, you quickly learn to adjust and accept what you cannot control, to appreciate the beauty of sunrises, sunsets, and the quiet at sea, to be mindful of resources like food, energy, and water, and to put others before yourself because every action on board affects everyone. This constant thought of ‘the other’ changed me. And then, when you return to land, you realize how much we burden ourselves with unnecessary things, with materialism, and how little we really need to live. You also realize how far we have drifted apart from one another as human beings. What also struck me was the contrast between our security and the reality of so many migrants. We knew we were in safe hands, with a dedicated crew ensuring that we had food, drinking water, and the certainty of reaching a safe harbor. But what about those who set out without that privilege? This thought never left me, it followed me with every sunset and sunrise, pushing me to be more grateful for everything I have.

If there was anything that challenged me, it was not discomfort or life on the boat itself, but the inner confrontation with this injustice. It hurt to realize how fragile human life can be at sea, and how differently one can experience the same waters depending on whether you sail for peace or flee for survival. I also experienced a lot of alone time, time for my thoughts and myself, and an opportunity to recharge from the fast-paced life that many of us lead nowadays.

I believe that the value of this project is immeasurable, and that only later will we fully realize how significant what you have done is, and how meaningful it was for us to participate and spend time on the boat.

I knew I would miss the sky, the stars, the sunrises, the moonrise, the sunsets, and the infinite colors as soon as I stepped back on earth. I am still missing them, and those images will stay with me, along with the eyes and smiles of each of you. These two weeks taught me patience, humility, gratitude, and the power of coexisting in such a sensitive and beautiful space. It was a beautiful reminder to me that peace begins with small acts of kindness, for nature, for one another, and for those whose journeys are far more dangerous than ours.

Respectfully »

Amina