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20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Afwerki's Place

Afwerki, a painter working with "Alef", an initiative that assists refugees in Haifa, sits in his living room, Israel, March 16, 2021. At the age of 27, while serving in the military, Afwerki left his homeland: “It was 2007, my last day in Eritrea. How can I forget such a thing? I felt fear inside but reflected courage outside. I fear all my life but no one knows it. The fear is only for me. In Eritrea, my biggest fear was that I would not kill myself. Prison did not scare me. I was worried that I would kill myself but I knew the answer. I will not hurt myself. If I'm gone, some people will get hurt. Sometimes, living is good. We're all going to die anyway one day, so why do it to yourself? Death, if it comes - comes. Life, sometimes it's fun. Sometimes, not all the time. sometimes…"

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Haifa, Israel
Camera: NIKON D600
Copyright: © Daniel Rolider