Hello welcome to rewind im Richelle Carey here at aljazeera english we have built a library of Award Winning documentaries over the past decade and on rewind were taking another look at some of the very best of them this week on back to 2010 on aljazeera follow the heartwarming story of one mans determination to leave the poverty of his west african home in the liberian capital of monrovia risking his life to cross the Sahara Desert on the back of a pickup truck and the hope of a better life in the west his name is joseph lamo and his drive to make a new life for his family was fraught with setbacks from 2010 heres the extraordinary story of one mans journey from liberia to the shores of americas great lakes this is joseph journey. And were you. Here to see a green truck yes youre in front of the green jackets you. Know that just you see that. They seem to be less superstores. Now were on the right we need to. Do. A really good. Man after 2 years of 1st met joseph blamo while covering a story on illegal immigration that was a chance encounter 2 years ago little did i know that joseph journey would take him from the Sahara Desert all the way to new york city. This is the way out of africa the Sahara Desert begins just outside the town of cows in the northeast of mali. Thousands of subsaharan africans come through here every year many without documents but with enough money to pay for a truck ride across the desert. The smuggling of people is a big business here and we couldnt risk filming in town thats why were out here in the desert trying to meet up with the travellers already on their way to tell the jury. Ok 50 kilometers out of town is where the smuggling route begins we wait until nightfall when most of the pickup trucks leave. Traveling on the smugglers route we came across this broken down vehicle with about 20 guys inside all going to algeria and then on to libya and some even to europe. Let me. Tell you my tire my tire busted while traveling in the desert the passengers know the dangers of traveling in the desert packed into old vehicles. Joseph is from liberia this is his 2nd attempt to cross the border. A stop it will even though better him a present. Of migrant yes yes migrants what kind of. Know what. About a world often in a desperate want but. Somehow they get the truck running again and its time to go. Tens of thousands make trips just like this one its dangerous people fall off the back in breakdowns leave entire groups stranded hundreds continue to die a year after year these young men have already come a long way conditions are tough but nothing will stop them after reaching. They will look for transport to either libya or morocco the launching pads for Southern Europe but for now they still have 400 kilometers of desert in mali on a 27 year old toyota pickup. Back in liberia josephs older brother received bad news. Joseph journey ended when he was caught by the algerian the police. We dont know how those were real actual migrants. I dont one but i was foreign concerns were very vicious to do with migrants. The authorities took his belongings in abandon him on the mali inside of the desert border. The family was worried they came together and raised 150. 00 us dollars hoping he would come home and call us and it was i knew i would see that. No i but he would see the money but then got his son in the compound. Like. Mr and mrs blamo were upset with their son and hadnt even told them where he was going and you know what they would. Have bought i defended. His rule is that it wont cost to the one i want to build. And we cant be like this let me give you my blessing. Joseph was back but liberia hadnt changed. Just it has a Computer Science certificate from a Vocational College but its not enough for stable employment here they were calling boats at the beach was still the only job available to him and his friends. Im fed up you dont know and then i doubt. You know. Joseph wanted out once again so he took a chance in played what is called the u. S. Green card lottery if you win you can live and work in the United States legally. Away for the next couple. Of months. So. The money was long gone. But finally a glimmer of hope he was randomly selected for a crucial interview at the American Embassy here in monrovia it seems like joseph luck was finally changing. Its josephs big morning but its important for everyone with a job in the us shoes if can be a vital life to his fathers household of 15 people. That is also what is the atheist who said thank you for all what they do. Well i just. I will find out if you will but i want. To like you know. Even. Now im feeling very much fox. Im numb positive that. Im in love. With him to go to. A few steps away is the American Embassy in the interview that could change you seems like. More than 30000000. 00 people from around the world play the lottery each year. But the u. S. Government only grants 50000. 00 visas. Millions of the lottery entries come from places like liberia which was recently torn apart by a vicious civil war. 70 percent of the people here live in poverty. Blamo is not the only one trying to leave. What are the chances. Better than he ever could have imagined. Ringback they were. Doing there not only are we going to see myself getting never ever. Walking i want to have. So that theres so many to talk. A convoy of 3 cars carrying 34 people bring joseph to the airport for a late night flight. His immediate family staying the closest to him. Not going to. Be that you. Dont like it because of the young man who. Doesnt. Like a bad. Rabbit out of you know lou. Im. Ugly. But i know what. Its the start of a new life for joseph blama. Hes one of a 1000000 legal immigrants who enter the u. S. Each year in new york city is his port of entry. Joke. You want. Us lets hope. We all do is crazy there was up this was a one and i welcome go to you all. And i wish all the best kept that in your back you got to get up and go for we think you are or can be said. He just has a sister he hasnt seen in years who lives in the state of pennsylvania but he wants to test the waters here 1st. You have an acquaintance who lives on Staten Island theres a good bit. From my childhood days ill smallville watching the news seeing me on the street so im very much hoping the little famo said. Nobody talked to. But i think doesnt without hamas is still in pennsylvania. Hello truck route im. Ok what im going to do when i cross a bridge im going to call you back. About tonight but i did this. To us i thought of the moment you know im over you have what i would do is good to have a. Truck on is also from liberia and they knew each other through a friend back home. Welcome to the sun. As well they are really the Park Hill Housing project was also truck on its 1st stop in america that was in 1999 and hes been here ever since. Most if you. Are one of the differences number. Last. Year. He lives here with his 2 sons and his cousin in after the long trip this is where joseph will spend his 1st night in america. Yeah i just. Want to. Live by. The good news paul. Needed. And i missed. The news. Is jam packed to capacity it is a cycle is that. The intervening come together and the awful say they dont know when hell be gone when people seem to say yes theres. A lot of good will not make you are going to vote only so many ways and so we need a lot i mean. That evening truck on take joseph out on the town. To. Make sure just as their brand was 0000000000 this is your. Most of truculence friends are like therians who have been in the us for years in they still believe they are living the American Dream is the 4th of what it was like. Oh my little brother will have to come all of you fall down here ill go through your you. Should. Be easy i mean. Thats my right no making me feel i mean you are going someplace where you come to love youre nobody at all and then you make. Me look just like you i want to marry you really want to but i know this is part that was part kill is bustling with house parties on saturday night. In one of truculence friends is celebrating his birthday was was. The music and faces are familiar but the atmosphere has an edge. To sift is finding it hard to fit in. And hes alarmed when a fist fight breaks out a party. To see if it isnt in danger but he doesnt want trouble. But my god it. Was good it was good. Was. Josephs has seen enough. The next morning joseph is on a greyhound bus. He thinks the liberians he met in new york have lost their focus in news that his sister will provide a more Solid Foundation for his new life. What joseph doesnt know is that he is heading straight into an economic crisis. Erie pennsylvania is in the middle of americas dying manufacturing region. Joseph is hoping to find work in a place where jobs are disappearing. I think he believes that those who dont have to pay. For everything the president. Said. You still hear that perfect. Credit for jobs. Once again joseph is prepared to take a chance. Oh. Aneta hasnt seen her little brother since she immigrated to the u. S. In 2004. She came here after liberias civil war as a political refugee from. The u. S. Government set her up in erie in her job as a caregiver has provided a good life for her family her children now see more american in liberia and. New moon is my favorite scene is when the anyone doing it will care but she would sit and wait and you see told you she said in the thing that you may be easily cured if you continue to think and they say grazie ever was. Ok on the basis that you know the only thing that a. Few days. Her was that the 4th of july marks americas Independence Day and then it brings the family to a public picnic and its josephs 1st real look at Middle America and your feet. Look even look at paradise. City streets are early ill. Give you the speech you see if. You just dont feel im even. Thinking about you so far down the aisle can just sit on your ass now i can just sit. Here and speak. Enjoy doing a. Report on how the little you doing that used to be. He can think about his future tomorrow today is finally content. Just as johnny an incredible insight into one my prince pursuit of the American Dream that was more than 8 years ago now and im sure youre wondering whatever happened to joseph rewind went back recently to arion pennsylvania to find out how life is new don for joseph since we last saw. I came to you he tells you to. Join you in the summertime it was nice 1st came because it was just like africa the well. It was good. Because my sister lives here so i choose you if. You want to go somewhere else where i dont know anybody was going to i thought it was going to be hard for me to get started. At the end of the year we lost our you know what in the winter bought new very much a similar. First went off and then the snow started fall out was my 1st time to see snow back in africa i only used to see snow on watching movies on t. V. I have no excuse that it was surprising to me that i was there a 1st time a little while we know how or why. This news just out of fall fall for it was so amazing to me joy of a 1st time. Our 1st game i how theyre in the book of. Things a little bit difficult you know starting point as time progressed to sterling Getting Better of both joe starr working as an immigrant although good food costs. Will live the American Dream you know and i believe im living the American Dream because it is better then before you. Know how a job can revive see youre still living living good lives and living the American Dream yes or everything is good good. Good thing are how to bring a movie. Out of memorial. Thing thats only one of the best thing a bit. Of fog died. My mom little was in the house with all the kids things were pulling by. Because she stayed a long time will not follow the marvel of 40 years. I only used to talk to on the phone while i really miss hawk and i wanted to see a lot i wanted to come and see it without. The how about life experience. On the other sell the war. To the house well. My mom. Didnt welcome such says brown least in 10 years of. Unlimited youre only get 2 of. My teaching. Is that im a room. And. This will move. And theres more room. He must feel that i can make you can do anything that i want to do to succeed weve got it all in circumstances ill stick with it coming a week. Just coming comes out just. So thats why i believe. Thats why i get only to do it and i was reminded every day well look up in the morning legs go out with a bible i see you only dont believe. Yeah i get it out above my head be the most. Transfers from like area this is a 2nd attempt to cross the border. Hello. First you have to go back to them or above quote one of the most so. And im doing a book once you do your book boss. A few. Sources on the progress thats not. Being here in america im sitting now im settled down here. I get a house ive got a job ive got a car. And. The struggle the struggle continues but i leave. A huge distance from by day to now. Of course huge histories. Thats it for this week you can find out more about joseph incredible story and watch other films from the series by going to the rewind page on the aljazeera website but for now until next time the back. They can bring your people back to life im sorry what dates on the best of aljazeera is documentaries in libya close the book the last of no value like any other student rewind continues with spirit trying to do stories that have impacts on society i testify in the court of law to make sure that the bad guys i put behind bars so many people have gone to jail as a result of my way rewind on aljazeera. A unique form of protest by a palestinian artist using a symbol of National Identity to create postage and passport stamps. Allows for some burglaries and others lead on a new life that can fly anywhere sending a message of resistance about the arab israeli conflict a loss of weight come to palestine. Palestine sunbed a stamp of defiance on aljazeera. 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