A DREAM KNOWS NO BORDERS

Ismail is fifteen years old. He was born in a small village in Egypt, far from the bright lights of Cairo and the tourist sparkle of the pyramids. Tourists never see the other side of that country – the shacks without electricity, children working instead of going to school, and mothers who pray each morning that their children survive the day.

"My father worked in construction. One day, he fell from the fifth floor and died. No one was ever held responsible. I was ten years old." – Ismail recalls. His mother, a cleaner, would come home with wounds on her hands. She never said she was tired. She would just look at him and whisper: "You must leave. There is no life here."

As the eldest of three children, Ismail left school at eleven. He started working as a street vendor, but the money was barely enough for bread. His mother’s words echoed in his mind: "There is no future here."

And so he left.

"I set out across the desert with a backpack and a photograph of my family in my pocket." The journey through Libya was harsh. He spent nights in cold hangars with hundreds of other refugees. He crossed borders hidden under truck tarpaulins, walking for hours and days without food or water.

On their journey, children like Ismail face a series of serious challenges. Instead of a safe and carefree childhood, they are often met with days filled with exhaustion, hunger, and fear. Deprived of access to education, healthcare, and basic safety, they become easy targets for various forms of exploitation, including forced labor and human trafficking. Their dreams of a better life are often shattered under the weight of uncertainty and the dangers that accompany every step they take.

He eventually arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the Temporary Reception Center Ušivak, where he was welcomed by the World Vision team that provides continuous, 24-hour care and protection for unaccompanied children. As part of the initial reception process, Ismail was informed about all available services and activities in the camp, including creative workshops, educational opportunities, and ways he could take part in them. He also learned how to share his opinions, voice concerns, or offer suggestions through a formal feedback and complaint mechanism.

Soon after, Ismail was assigned a guardian, a person who represents his best interests in all procedures and decisions affecting his life and future. The guardian accompanied him throughout the registration process, ensuring that Ismail had access to education, healthcare, psychosocial support, and legal aid, and informed him of his rights and available options.

The guardian became his constant point of support, someone he could turn to for advice, protection, or help with daily challenges. Thanks to the combination of ongoing professional care, the guardian's support, and clear and accessible information, Ismail finally felt safe, informed, and included for the first time since the beginning of his long and uncertain journey.

"For the first time in a long time, I feel like a child. I have someone to turn to. I feel safe." – he says. 

Now, he spends his days learning English and playing football. When he draws a map of Europe, he always circles Italy. When asked why, he answers: "I’m not going there to escape. I’m going there to live."

His greatest dream is to one day call his mother and hear her, through tears of joy, say: "My son made it."

"Even though I have walked through darkness, I still believe in the light. I believe there is a home somewhere where I am not afraid to fall asleep. A home where I do not count bites of bread, but dreams. A home big enough for me, my mother, and my brothers."

Ismail knows that his journey is far from over. But he keeps going, step by step. And each of those steps carries a name—the name of a dream that knows no borders.

In this quiet struggle, the services and support he receives at the reception center have become his anchor. Access to information, safety, and the ongoing support of his guardian and professional teams not only help him cope with the past, but also give him the strength to face what lies ahead.

Providing this kind of protection to children on the move remains essential, because it is through such support that they begin to trust themselves, trust others, and trust in the future.