Because we carry within us the quietness of the streets we’re used to, the presence of familiar faces. Moving away from well-known voices and familiar footsteps is like leaving a part of yourself behind. That’s why leaving one’s own country is not just a journey; it’s a profound separation that no one would choose willingly. And it’s not only one’s home that’s left behind, but also all the emotions they cannot carry along; their childhood dreams, the voices of loved ones, their past. The scent of the life they leave behind fades a little more with every step taken. But human dignity is the one thing a person cannot give up. Human dignity is the purpose of life.
The film “For a Moment, Freedom”, directed by Arash T. Riahi, tells the very story of this separation and pursuit. It depicts the efforts of three different groups embarking on a journey from Iran and Iraq to reach Europe. A child refuses to let go of his father’s hand on a freezing night at the border. A woman hides her tears as she closes the door of the home she’s leaving behind for the last time. A young man crosses the border, not to protect his identity, but to preserve his dignity. None of them are seeking adventure. All they want is to live a humane life and to wake up one morning without fear.
The characters in the film actually represent the faces of millions of people around the world today. Those striving to escape the darkness of war, oppression, and poverty; those walking toward the unknown in pursuit of a new beginning… And at that very moment, the shared voice of humanity echoes:
“To live is more than to just exist.”
The journeys we see in this film are realities that no one would want to experience, yet millions of people are forced to endure. According to 2024 statistics from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), over 114 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence, persecution, or oppression. Moreover, these journeys are not only filled with uncertainty, but also with the risk of losing one’s life. Based on data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 8,565 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2024.
Today is 18 December, International Migrants Day. Millions of people are still forced to set out on journeys in search of a safe life. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent unnamed lives, unfinished sentences, and unfulfilled dreams. And in the wake of these losses, extending a helping hand or being a voice for those left behind becomes the most fundamental responsibility that makes us human.
In the Footsteps of Hope, in the Voices of People
And for this very reason, every December 18, we remember not only migration itself, but also the human stories behind these journeys, their courage to start over, and the healing power of solidarity. One of the organizations that upholds this power every day in the field is the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM).
SGDD-ASAM, bu yıl 30. kuruluş yıldönümünü kutlamaya hazırlanırken; herkesin insan onuruna yaraşır bir yaşam sürebilmesi için dayanışmayı, varlığının merkezinde tutmaya devam ediyor. Bugün Türkiye başta olmak üzere Yunanistan, Suriye, Ukrayna ve Belçika’da faaliyet gösteren ofisleri aracılığıyla; koruma ve hukuki danışmanlıktan psikososyal desteğe, kadınların ve çocukların güçlenmesinden eğitim ve uyum çalışmalarına, temel ihtiyaçlara erişimden sosyal katılımın artmasına kadar pek çok alanda çalışarak insanların iyileşmesi ve güçlenmesi için yollar açıyor.
And what it feels deep in its heart is:
Sometimes in the footsteps of hope, sometimes in the voices of people;
in solidarity with all those in need of a helping hand…
