This is a story about Kemi who left Nigeria in 2011 and traveled to London on a student visa. He left Nigeria thinking about all the money that he was going to make abroad and being a millionaire over night. Kemi did not know what was in store for him.
Five years later, his student visa has run out and he is constantly worried about authorities finding him and deporting him. He is always running when he sees uniformed police at a station and his heart drops into his stomach when he sees police cars passing from his road. Imagine not being able to go out without looking over your shoulder and worrying about being sent back home. He still lives in one tiny room that is only big enough for his bed and clothes and he has to share a toilet, bathroom and kitchen with 8 people who live in the same house.
As for the millions that he thought he was going to make, he barely makes enough money to pay for his rent, transport to work, food shopping and the little money that he sends back home for his mum and dad. Kemi's work situation is no better. He has two jobs which he does 7 days a week. His first job is for a cleaning company where he starts cleaning offices at 4.00 am in the morning. As soon as he finishes this job at 8.00 am, he runs to his next job as a kitchen porter, washing dishes and cutlery until 1.00 pm. He goes back home when he finishes his jobs and sits on his bed watching TV because he has no friends and family around him. Kemi is completely on his own and without papers his life can not improve.
Unfortunately this is a story that many Africans who live abroad can relate to. The ones that work hard continue to work hard and sometimes their luck changes. Others who are lazy find themselves being homeless, taking buses half way around London every night so that they can sleep and eventually end up going back home, living in the village because they are unable to face the disappointment and shame of coming home empty handed.
Life abroad is not easy at all!
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