Travelling Light

In 2015, nearly 200,000 people undertook the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe. For a lot of money they put their lives and the lives of their families into the hands of smugglers, who promise to take them across the sea. Crammed into small, unseaworthy boats - often for many hours if not days without any food and drinking water - they hold out in the hope that they will get rescued before the boat gives in. Pills against seasickness are in high demand but often have little, or no effect. And often they are still in the bag that got left behind. Luggage is rarely allowed on the boats and is taken from the travellers before they get on, so all they are left with are the clothes they are wearing and a few small personal possessions they can carry on their bodies. Most people are lucky and eventually get rescued. But not all. More than 2000 people drowned this year on what is referred to as the deadliest crossing in the world, and many only narrowly escaped death. So who are the people that risk their lives in the Mediterranean? I wanted to know what people who leave everything behind to embark on such a gruelling journey, manage to take over into a new life and what these items mean to them. As humans we define ourselves not just by who we are but also by what we have. We give meaning to objects that exceeds their face value. I have asked refugees from Syria about the objects they had with them on the journey and what they mean to them. http://issuu.com/crazeebee/docs/travelling_light_-_issuu_mini