Stories from asylum seekers living in Ireland.

The book consists of ten migration stories of African women to Ireland. The stories narrate how the
lives of these women use to be in Africa, what caused them to migrate and their migration Journey.
For a lot of women who seek refuge in other countries, it is often a personal and emotional struggle.
Their stories and circumstances are different but they are all linked by one thing – leaving their
countries, homes and often their families for fear of persecution, punishment and torture.

Below are some quotes from some of the women whose stories that feature in this book.

* “I pleaded with my aunt who housed me not to make me go through female circumcision,
I was badly cut and lost a lot of blood, those who mutilated me were half drunk, and I
suffered for a long time from acute vaginal infections” (Nina, Nigeria)
* “The Journey to the refugee camp had lasted three hours, women cried as they were drugged
out of the van, some people had died in the van due to suffocation” (Mary, Rwanda)
* “My hands were tied to the back of a chair, the rape I experienced in prison resulted into
pregnancy, and I suffered from depression” ( Lydia, DRC)
* “When I was 16 years old, my father summoned me and told me he was giving me away in
marriage to the chief of the village who was 45 year old” (Emma, Cameroon)
* “I lived in fear and oppression; there were a lot of shootings and killings on the street”
( Mora, South Africa)

Link to Akidwa website http://www.akidwa.ie/