Real life stories

Growing up in Tunisia I had always a mixed feeling, like everyone in the world. I was surrounded by friends and family, even spoiled sometimes - not all the time.

At the age of 5, 6 and then 7 years old I was always asking how big a plane can be. I used to wave at planes and think that people in them were waving back to me. And I thought “one day I will be a very important person and go on a plane somewhere”. But I never thought that I would be forced to live somewhere else other than Tunisia. However, I didn’t only realize that, but also that people like me in Tunisia can't just decide to travel unless they are rich or super old, so the embassies have a guarantee that they are coming back.

When I was 15 - 16 years old, I was always dreaming of a better world and searching for tools and ways to achieve it. I went to the easy bath of beliefs, I thought that all the truth was in religion, but soon realized that I was not accepted in any of them as a gay person.

I studied IT, but it was not my choice. My brother forced me to study it in University as I was good at it. I wanted to study art. In my second year of University, I decided to change. But the educational system was more rigid than I thought. I couldn't change my BA unless I finished the first one.

I was always loved by my chosen family, and part of my biological one.

When I moved to Malta I missed everyone, especially my father who started having Alzheimer, and I don’t want him to forget me. But unfortunately I cannot travel to see him.

In Malta I am doing a BA in performing arts, helping my own community (LGBTIQ migrants), living with my boyfriend and my furry baby (dog) “Bobby” that I adopted here after he was chained for three years in a field. I am building a future with all the struggles that we go through, I fled my country looking for freedom, and I got it. I also got racism, humiliation and exclusion from the political system.

However, in spite of that, I will achieve my goals one day.

Dali, 27, from Tunisia