Abdullah is a 19-year-old from Somalia who’s been living in a temporary camp in Calais, France. His dream is to live in the UK so he can one day play professional football, especially for his favorite team Liverpool FC. That dream has pushed him to take very dangerous journeys in hopes of reaching Britain.
He first crossed the Mediterranean Sea in a small, risky boat from Libya to Italy. From there, he traveled by bus to France and has been trying to cross the English Channel in a dinghy.
He spoke about his situation after coming back from a failed attempt to leave the French coast. He said people in the camp take turns trying to cross, hoping one boat makes it through safely. He mentioned that one of his friends had already reached the UK recently, which made him even more determined.
When asked why he wanted to go to Britain instead of staying in France or any of the other countries he passed through, Abdullah pointed to the tents and rough living conditions in Calais and said, “It’s better than here. You don’t live like this in the UK.” He believes Britain offers opportunities—housing, jobs, and a chance to chase your dreams, whether that means studying or becoming a footballer or actor.
Abdullah doesn’t want to try to join football teams in Italy or France. For him, it’s not just about playing football—it’s about playing for Liverpool. “If you love one team, you go to them. You can’t just go with another,” he said.
Even though the boat journey across the Channel is extremely risky, he feels it’s a risk worth taking. For him, it’s a choice between living a hard, hopeless life and possibly getting a better future. “It’s a 50/50 chance,” he explained. “But the chance of a better life makes it worth it.”
He knows flying to the UK legally isn’t an option for him, so crossing the water is the only way he sees. Like many other migrants in Calais, he’s aware that traffickers often offer “free” boat rides with the condition that migrants repay the cost later usually by working illegally once they arrive in the UK.
Some migrants told reporters that smugglers charge between £1,500 and £2,000 for the journey and often make arrangements with people as far away as Turkey. Despite the dangers, young men like Abdullah continue to risk everything because of the hope that life in Britain could be a way out of poverty and into a future they’ve always dreamed of.
