Caged Bird
Dignity | Freedom | Future
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I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS.
"The caged bird sings With a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom". Poet: Maya Angelou |
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Shah Tawassuli spends his days in a Surabaya prison camp. That's where he 'lives'. Where his body is held. It's his cage. Imprisoned for years without ever committing a crime. Yet each day he 'sings'. Each day he rises above that cage. He plays football, encourages his friends, cuts their hair. Cares. He teaches English to fellow inmates. Small things, big impact. And he draws !! Beautiful, clever, simple, life like line drawings. Drawings of fragile busy birds and delicate, sunny flowers. An artist who loves to create when he can scrounge the paper. There is always a shortage of paper and fear of ink running out. Such is the nature of the detention centre where he lives. |
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There is never enough of the important things to sustain a life. No Care or family or work or love or home or hope or freedom. Yet he draws flowers reaching for the sun and birds flying free. He is young and strong and hopeful and focussed and clever. Shah Tawassuli is determined to transcend and survive and live. He is daily learning and forming and coming into his own. He is growing in his awareness that he must journey to freedom. He is gathering strength Summoning his powers Biding his time Learning the facts Honing his skills. Deeply aware that he must shape and form and find his freedom. Staunchly determined to make his life a tribute to the family who were snatched away from him by evil forces in Afghanistan. Remarkably positive and determined to rebuild and thrive. Ready to create a new life wherever he can put down new roots. Accepting of the sacrifices and bravery needed to journey on. Without hesitation or doubt he daily thinks about and calculates the ways he will rescue the one family member waiting for him. Now the man of the family he faces these enormous tasks. |
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Shah is a true hero of the world's current refugee crisis. He is an asylum seeker due to horror and terror and danger. This young man is on his true and genuine freedom quest. There was no question that he could stay in Afghanistan. He is Hazara. The world wouldn't have him had he stayed. The world needs him. His skill and heart and art and attitude affect lives where he is. His inspiration and vision and courage will change lives all over. He will be a leader. Indonesia's Behrouz. An artist, maybe a writer. He is one of Earth's 65 million people currently on the move. He is a remarkable one. |
Indonesian
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Detention
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Centres
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