EU - big dream or illusion ?

     Each day hundreds of emigrants from Africa reach southern Europe's shores. They come from many different countries and have different cultural backgrounds, but one thing they all have in common is a dream: a dream of a better life in Europe. To those who spend up to 7 days on tiny vessels, traversing the Mediterranean Sea, the EU might look like (the promised land). Affordable education, a functioning health care system and the freedom of prosecution are the main reasons for an ever increasing number of illegal immigrants to undertake the life-threatening journey to Europe without even knowing what awaits them there. Unfortunately, the conditions most African immigrants in the EU have to face are completely inhuman.

     Upon arrival Europe turns out to be a way more hostile environment to the majority of African migrants than expected, as the example of Dayo shows. The Nigerian refugee has spent the last seven months in a detention center on Malta while his request for asylum is being processed. Authorities have told him that yet another four months are to be expected in order for it to be passed through. Meanwhile Dayo is forced to share a small flat with other 97 people, not being allowed to work or leave the center. 

     Dayo's situation is not a solitary case. Christian Nana is from Cameroon and has migrated to the Netherlands when he was a little boy. His mother who had married a Dutchman, got a divorce which made her and her son undocumented residents again. Being undocumented means being inexistent to the federal system of a country, which makes finding a job or a place to live almost impossible. Christian now makes his living as a rapper, performing under the pseudonym "Scor.pi.o". He uses his art as a medium to raise awareness about the situation of immigrants in Europe amongst fellow Africans, who consider migration as a solution to their problems.

Migrating to Europe might seem like an easy way out of their misery for many Africans, but they have to be aware that their dreams will not be served to them on a silver plate. Obtaining the status of a legal immigrant in Europe is exacerbated by bureaucratic barriers, which also affect housing, finding a job and social integration. In order to build a future in Europe, immigrants have to adapt their expectations to their actual situation and be prepared in every possible way to try and overcome any obstacles that might present themselves on their way to a better life.