By:
Megan Lloyd

Published:
6 December 2022

Dear Friends,

There’s no denying that much of our work involves an abrupt confrontation with darkness. As we listen, investigate, and learn, sadness is often a constant companion.

Yet most of us would agree—from Spain to Italy to Germany—that this work actually offers up a range of every human emotion.

Yes, there is tragedy. But there is also a lot of love. There’s joy. There’s even music.

Sarjo is someone who reminds me of those little flickers of light.

Sarjo left Gambia when he was 17 years old, traveling through Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Libya before crossing the Mediterranean and arriving in Europe in 2015. I interviewed him last year in Tarragona, Spain, a town about an hour’s train ride from Barcelona. His Journey Story is one of terror and danger and uncertainty, and as he would say, a whole lot of luck.

Sarjo has an exceptionally peaceful demeanor. “No problem” rolls off his tongue frequently. As I got to know Sarjo better after our interview, he also unveiled his passion for music.

Sarjo writes, sings, and produces his own songs in his free time. He recently worked with a local youth organization in Tarragona to produce a music video with his friend.

What I love about Sarjo’s first music video, “Time After Time” is well, everything.

I love the scenes of Sarjo leading a crew of young folks through a neighborhood he now calls his own. I love him singing in front of the brightly painted murals and dancing with his friend. I love seeing his confidence, his smile and smirks that come through in the closeups. I love how the song gets stuck in my head for the afternoon every time I watch it. And more than anything, I love how it makes me feel and how I imagine Sarjo felt making it: joyful.

When you donate to our 4th Annual Holiday Fundraiser you get to be a part of spreading that joy.

Tangibly, you’re sending correspondents like me up from southern Spain to northern Spain to meet with people like Sarjo, so I can give him space to speak, so I can document his story—a story that’s important and contributes to the archives of history. A story that is also unfortunately common. That’s why we’re telling these stories, the gut-wrenching parts and the joy-filled, music-ridden parts too.

We need you to make it happen.

As Sarjo says, “Teamwork makes the dream work, you know?”

Thank you for standing with us.