World · Europe · 18 hrs ago
Eritrean refugee Shewit Tekie fought for years to work in Switzerland
Shewit Tekie left Eritrea alone at 13 and reached Switzerland two years later after a dangerous journey through Sudan and Libya.
People traffickers held her in Libya for three months before she crossed the Mediterranean by boat.
Switzerland rejected her asylum application twice, and she says she was unable to work and had to rely on social assistance.
She wanted to learn the language, train for a profession and earn her own living, but says it took seven years to get permission to work.
Tekie is now 27, pays taxes and is described as fully integrated in Switzerland.
Her experience came before Switzerland introduced its Integration Agenda in 2019, which set goals to help refugees and temporarily admitted people enter work and society sooner.
A documentary following her life over ten years is now showing in Swiss cinemas.
Shewit Tekie, an Eritrean refugee, says she spent years trying to gain the right to work in Switzerland.
She left Eritrea alone at 13 and reached Switzerland at 15 after travelling through Sudan and Libya.
She says her asylum applications were rejected twice and she was unable to work for years.
Tekie says she wanted to learn the language and a profession so she could earn her own living.
The documentary “Freedom – Le Destin de Shewit” follows her journey over ten years.
- Who
- Shewit Tekie, an Eritrean refugee.
- What
- She fought for years to obtain permission to work in Switzerland after her asylum applications were rejected twice.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- Switzerland; Tekie fled Eritrea and travelled through Sudan and Libya.
- Why
- She wanted to learn the language and a profession, work and support herself.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I had not imagined that I would have to struggle for another seven years to get a work permit.
I had to take that risk; I had no choice.
I was basically forced to stay on social assistance.
Tekie fled Eritrea alone.
She spent almost two years working in Sudan to pay for the rest of her journey.
She travelled to Libya, where people traffickers held her for three months.
She crossed the Mediterranean in a boat that nearly sank and eventually reached Switzerland at 15.
Switzerland’s Integration Agenda came into force, setting goals and processes to help refugees and temporarily admitted people integrate more quickly.
- Age when she fled Eritrea
- 13
- Age when she reached Switzerland
- 15
- Time held in Libya
- Three months
- Asylum applications rejected
- Twice
- Time spent seeking a work permit
- Seven years
- Documentary
- Freedom – Le Destin de Shewit
Sources
Related news
Trump says Russia and Ukraine agreed to energy ceasefire
Zelensky says Ukraine can hold elections after a 60-day ceasefire
Trump announces energy ceasefire, but Ukraine says it was not consulted
Experts say Russian diesel deal unlikely to lower US fuel prices
Russian strikes hit Ukrainian energy sites after Trump ceasefire claim
Young people share lessons from Samuel Paty murder trial with students
Suspect arrested over planned attack on Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
Trump calls for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy over Russian diesel deal
Drone attacks in Russia’s Belgorod Region kill one and injure three
Drone strikes damage two Yandex data centers in Russia
Drone attack shuts down Yandex data centre in Russia’s Vladimir region
