Abubakar, known to his friends as Aby, hails from Pakistan—specifically from the city of Mandi Bahauddin. He is 21 years old and has been living continuously in Italy for about four years. He describes himself as brilliant, yet fun-loving and cheerful—a good person who is always looking toward the future. This is what he wants people to know about him, rather than being judged solely by his origins. He decided to leave his home and his land to build a better future, not just for himself, but for those he left behind. His home country had nothing to offer him: neither a secure future, nor the peace of a serene life, nor the chance to continue his studies. To give his siblings a choice and his family a better life, he made a difficult decision.
Coming from a very large family—nine siblings in total, born to his father and his two different wives—Aby is the youngest on his father’s side. Despite having two older sisters, the weight of responsibility fell on him. So, he chose to leave everything behind and spread his wings in search of a brighter tomorrow. Although the journey would prove to be gruelling, his efforts bore fruit: one of his sisters is now able to study. He chose the “Bel Paese” (Italy), a land that many said was overflowing with opportunity. He seized the chance because he had an acquaintance in Chiusi Chianciano Terme, a small town in the province of Siena, who described it as a beautiful, quiet environment. Aby left home in March 2018, but his arrival in Italy was far from immediate. His journey was harrowing: he spent a year and a half in Turkey, where he was once held captive in a room for 25 days, mistreated and locked away. This happened because the person his father had paid to help him kept the money, triggering a chain reaction of exploitation that fell entirely on Aby’s shoulders. He was only 14 years old, yet he had already experienced so much. He eventually managed to escape that “black hole” and move to another city, only to be arrested and later moved to reception centers in Turkey run by European projects. He then reached Greece, where he stayed for another year and a half.
It took three long years before he finally reached his desired destination: Italy. Throughout the journey, he traveled with others, but he recalls that no one lends a helping hand; everyone is preoccupied with money and personal gain. The only thought that kept him alive during those months was his family. People tried to push him to give up and go back, but with immense willpower and courage, he always replied that he would only go back dead, in a coffin—never alive. When he arrived in Italy, he was still a minor and was taken in by social services. For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of safety. Happiness flowed through his veins, but so did sadness: the journey was over, but the uncertainty of tomorrow remained, as did the scars of his past. His encounter with the reality of Siena was different from what he had expected. There is work, and people get paid—though sometimes underpaid—but the wall of prejudice remains high. This initially hindered his search for a job and a home. He also faced increased scrutiny from law enforcement; their biased assumptions often sparked a sense of anger within him. Even though he never caused trouble, he felt he was always in the crosshairs while those who actually caused problems were overlooked—an injustice he found hard to accept.
Nevertheless, Siena is now a second home to him; he feels a connection to it unlike any other city. He has formed many friendships—some very meaningful. Through others, however, he realized that the image of Westerners, and Italians in particular, isn’t always as positive as it seems. He learned that colleagues are often just colleagues, sometimes two-faced, and that a friendly greeting isn’t guaranteed to everyone outside of the workplace. This, too, was an important lesson; it taught him who to trust and changed how he relates to others. Over the years, he gained experience in the restaurant industry, eventually becoming an assistant cook. But happiness temporarily faded when a conflict with a supervisor created a tense atmosphere, leading to the end of his employment. This sparked a growing fear that all his hard work had been in vain. He was willing to do anything to keep going, even working without a regular contract. The thought of his family and a better future gave him the strength to persevere. After two months of struggle, he finally saw light at the end of the tunnel and secured a new contract. His journey was not just a geographic relocation or a separation from loved ones; it was a journey of self-discovery. As he says:
“Life never stops; there are both good and bad days, and you must keep moving forward.”
He admits that if he were to see the boy who left Pakistan today, he wouldn’t recognize him because he has changed so much. His motivation remains his family, especially his mother, along with his personal mantra:
“Keep dreaming; you never know, but your dreams are gonna come true. Dreamer with open eyes.”
For the future, he hopes to be an example to his fellow countrymen, proving that everything is possible. He aspires to become an even more grounded and independent person, with an even more secure future—because now, he knows the way, and he knows exactly what he wants.
