Portfolio_SebastianSele_small_website.pdf

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2. mediterranean sea 2021
3. In September 2021, I’ve spent a month out at sea with the sea r e s c u e r s o f S O S Méditerranée's «Ocean Viking». Their mission? To s a v e a s m a n y migrants in distress as possible, in a constant battle against the elements, the Libyan coast guard and their o w n t r a u m a t i c experiences.
4. Over the course of a week in international waters, the sea rescuers saved 129 people from distress. One of the rescued, a man from Nigeria, told me: «The journey across the sea is like committing suicide without wanting to die.» Since 2014, more than 2 5 ’ 0 0 0 m i g r a n t s drowned or disappeared in the Mediterranean sea.
8. italy 2022
10. One year after my time on the «Ocean Viking», I’ve revisited some of the rescued migrants. All of them had one thing in common: While their cases were processed by the o ffi cials, they stayed in Southern Italy’s Bari refugee camp. «During olive season, some people from the camp go to the fi elds to earn some money. They have to climb the fence, because work starts at 6 am and the camp does not open until 7 or 7:30», Abdullahi told me. And Aicha added: «Only yesterday there was an accident when someone climbed the fence.»
11. 23-year-old Aicha’s boat was intercepted by the European- funded Libyan coast guard three times. After each of them, she was put in one of the prisons, known for various forms of exploitation. Finally, at the fourth time, she managed to cross with her two kids. But the last time she heard of the boy’s father was in the night when he, too, was supposed to cross the Mediterranean sea. I asked her why she is, despite her tragic biography, smiling constantly. And she replied with a question: «What other option is there for me?»
12. united states of america 2022
14. In August 2022, I’ve travelled along the US-Mexican border wall in a rental car for a full week. My journey led me through El Paso (Texas, USA) where the deadliest attack on Latinos in U.S. history left its scars, through former murder capitol Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua, MX) where I had the chance to talk to migrants and a smuggler. Through Nogales (Sonora, MX) where I was granted insights into everyday life with one of the world’s longest border walls stretching through the backyard. It led me through Yuma (Arizona, USA) where Democratic president Joe Biden ordered to close the last gaps in the border wall, despite di ff erent promises. And, fi nally, my journey ended in San Diego (California, USA) where a priest held his weekly service for the reopening of a binational area called ‚Friendship Park‘.
15. Nogales (Sonora, MX) Chuy and Ashton throwing a few balls in front of their Borderland home.
16. Yuma (Arizona, USA) While outside temperatures have reached 108 °F, workers start closing the gaps in the border wall.
17. San Diego (California, USA) Every Sunday since the pandemic, Pastor Seth David Clark speaks the sermon into his smartphone. Through WhatsApp his words get transferred to a loudspeaker on the other side of the border fence.
18. syria 2022
20. In December 2022, I’ve accompanied a group of young people from all over the world who set out on a unique trip: Syria, in three days. Despite heavy criticism of h u m a n r i g h t s organizations, the group seemed to enjoy the trip that led them through civil war- ravaged streets and markets, among other places.
23. Want to now more? Visit www.sele.world or contact me via sebastian@sele.world