Mahamat Daoud’s life has been shaped by unimaginable hardships—yet, through resilience and determination, he continues to rise above them.

Born in Darfur, Sudan, his childhood was abruptly disrupted when the civil war forced him to flee his homeland in 2003. Seeking refuge, he found himself in the vast refugee camps of eastern Chad, where survival was a daily battle. Years later, when stability seemed to return to Darfur, Mahamat seized the opportunity to pursue his education back in Sudan. But peace was fleeting.

Once again, conflict uprooted his life, pushing him back to Chad and eventually forcing him into a perilous journey across the desert. This path led him to Libya—a country where hope for safety often clashes with brutal reality. There, he endured the horrors of imprisonment and bore witness to the suffering of countless migrants. Despite these adversities, Mahamat became a steadfast advocate for refugee rights, organizing protests in front of the UNHCR headquarters in Tripoli demanding justice for the voiceless.

Among the darkest chapters of his journey was the massacre at the Millia-Nador border 24th of June 2022 between Morocco and Spain. Mahamat experienced its horrors firsthand, witnessing unspeakable brutality and losing friends in the chaos. Exiled from Morocco, his search for safety continued.

After years of fleeing violence, enduring captivity, and seeking refuge, Mahamat took one final, desperate risk: crossing the Mediterranean Sea in a fragile boat alongside more than 45 migrants. With nothing but the hope of survival, they braved the treacherous waters in pursuit of a new beginning.

Today, Mahamat is based in Italy, carrying with him the weight of his past and the strength of his unbreakable spirit. His story is a testament to human resilience—a reminder of the courage, suffering, and unwavering determination of those who fight for the right to live in peace.