Mardini Discusses Journey From Refugee to Rescuer
The Initiative on Forced Migration and Human Trafficking (FMHT), a research initiative at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, hosted Sarah Mardini on April 11, 2017 to discuss her journey from refugee to rescuer.
Mardini told the story of her journey from Syria to Berlin, beginning in August 2015 when a bomb completely destroyed Mardini’s family home in Damascus, forcing her to undertake a harrowing 30 day journey along with her sister to Berlin by boat, car, train and foot.
Describing their crossing from Turkey to Greece in a small boat with other refugees, Mardini said the boat’s engine died and she and her sister, both professional swimmers, jumped out and pushed the boat for three and a half hours to safety on the Greek island of Lesvos.
“This day was the only time I felt that the water was not my friend, and that I didn’t know the water,” Mardini said.
Mardini said when she was in the water, pushing the boat on the way to Lesvos, she put all of fears and doubts of not making it to the island out of her mind.
“All the thoughts that you have when you’re sad or something bad happens to you — it just lasts for five seconds,” Mardini said. “I was thinking for five seconds that I don’t want to die, but because I told myself to shut up I made it and I’m here today. There is some stuff inside of you that you have to listen to, but the other stuff you have to shut down. It would just take you down, more and more.”
Nearly two years since her home was destroyed by a bomb in Damascus, Mardini works as a volunteer rescuer on Lesvos, the same island she first landed on after her crossing from Turkey to Greece.
On Lesvos, Mardini’s work involves ensuring refugees arriving by boat are safe once they reach the island. You can support Mardini’s work here.
Following Mardini’s talk, Assistant Professor of International Relations and FMHT Acting Directer Kaija Schilde moderated a question and answer session where Pardee School students had the opportunity to ask Mardini questions about her journey.