PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Mamadou Diallo, Director of Operations at Afrikana, on behalf of Mamadou
0:43:56
·
6 min
Mamadou Diallo, Director of Operations at Afrikana, reads a testimony on behalf of Mamadou, a 17-year-old immigrant who arrived in New York City in 2024. The testimony details Mamadu's challenging experiences navigating the city's shelter system, dealing with ACS, and finding support through Afrikana.
- Mamadou faced difficulties with shelter placement, language barriers, and accusations of being an impersonator
- Afrikana, particularly staff members Adama and Jamie, provided crucial support for Mamadou's legal, educational, and personal needs
- The testimony highlights the need for better treatment and support for young immigrants, including consistent shelter stays and language assistance
Mamadou Diallo
0:43:56
Hello, everyone.
0:43:58
My name is Mamaru Diallo, and I will be reading Mamadu's written statement.
0:44:06
And first of all, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to testify in front of you.
0:44:16
And also I'm the director of operations at Africa now.
0:44:20
Adam Ababa is our founder here.
0:44:24
My name is Mamadu.
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I'm seventeen years old.
0:44:27
When I when I arrived in New York City in 2024, I was sent from Roosevelt to Randalls Island.
0:44:34
I was scared.
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This huge cold place offer offered no help, just isolation.
0:44:39
But then I heard voices speak in Pula, my native language.
0:44:43
And I clung to them for support.
0:44:46
They told me what everyone already know.
0:44:48
There is no real help at Randalls Island.
0:44:51
I didn't enroll in school because I didn't even know how.
0:44:55
When my 30 days in the shelter ended, I tried to do tried to go to Saint Brigitte, only to be turned away because I was missing a shot.
0:45:04
They told me to go back to the Roosevelt Hotel.
0:45:07
When I got to the Roosevelt Hotel, a nurse looked at my passport and made a call.
0:45:12
Suddenly, people were gathering, whispering around me, and I had no idea what was happening.
0:45:18
They sent me upstairs, and after a while, the police arrived.
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I didn't speak English, and I was terrified.
0:45:25
I thought I had done something wrong.
0:45:27
They took me to the hospital for test and brought me back to Roosevelt, where a staff suggested I call a woman named Adama, someone who helps in cases like mine, had never met Adama.
0:45:40
But I had heard how she had helped so many others.
0:45:43
I was sitting there scared and confused as people talked about me.
0:45:48
Then Adama called me and told me they had called the police on me because I was accused of being an impersonator.
0:45:55
She then connected me with a woman named Jamie.
0:45:58
After hours of waiting, they put me in a cab and sent me to the Bronx.
0:46:02
I had no idea where I was going or why.
0:46:07
Later, a woman in a hijab woman speaking in my native language.
0:46:12
She introduced herself as Adam, the woman I had spoken to on the phone.
0:46:16
She told me ACS didn't believe I was 17 and couldn't help me, but she and Jamie were fighting for my case.
0:46:24
She asked if she could go through my bag, and I agreed.
0:46:27
She took pictures of my documents, always in conversation with Jamie.
0:46:31
I remember when ACS arrived, they questioned me and took me to the hospital for yet another exam.
0:46:38
Told ACS I was seventeen years old and that I needed help.
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I showed them a copy of my passport, my birth certificate, and my WHO vaccination card, World Health Organization vaccination card.
0:46:50
That all showed I was seventeen.
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But they did not believe me.
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They said they spoke to ICE, immigration, and they said I was lying.
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I felt confused, scared, and hopeless.
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Eventually, I was sent to a new shelter where Jamie had managed to secure me a bed.
0:47:07
After 5 months, ACS finally believed me that I was 17 and I agreed to take ed sorry.
0:47:14
After 5 months, ACS finally believed me that I was 17 and agreed to take me into care.
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In those 5 months, they did nothing to help me and accused me of being a liar.
0:47:26
Now, even though they agreed to make me to take me into foster care, I'm still at the shelter.
0:47:33
I stayed in touch with Adama, and she invited me to Africa and Harlem office, a place she promised to a safe where I would find others like me, and she was right.
0:47:42
I found many people my age trapped in the same circumstances I didn't know how to enroll in school, but Adama connected me with someone who helped me through the process.
0:47:52
I had nowhere else to go.
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So I started going to Africa every day.
0:47:56
Adama introduced me to Kaba, a more Italian asylum seeker who looks out for me, buys me food, and make sure I'm okay.
0:48:04
Now I'll help at Africa now by running the food pantry where we feed many people and I receive a stipend for my work.
0:48:12
I need a lawyer and Jamie, I needed a lawyer.
0:48:15
And Jamie got me one from legal aid.
0:48:17
I rely on Jamie Adama and everyone at Africa for everything.
0:48:22
I came to America alone with no family.
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But at Africa, I found a new family.
0:48:28
If I need clothes, shoes, or permission slips, or permission slips, sign for my school, I go to Africa.
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All of us do.
0:48:35
We are part of the soccer program and other activities, and they ensure we have legal representation.
0:48:42
When I meet others like me, I always tell them to go to Africa.
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I either take them myself or give them the address.
0:48:49
In my shelter, no one speaks our language.
0:48:51
When there is an emergency, we call Africa to translate.
0:48:55
Even at the hospital, we rely on Africa and staff to help us understand.
0:49:00
I'm so grateful to Africa, to Jamie, and to my lawyer, Daniella, for everything they have done, but we need more help.
0:49:07
When I arrived in New York City in early 2024, I was sent to Randalls Island, which is an adult shelter, and I'm a child.
0:49:16
I was scared in in a place with no help, just isolation.
0:49:21
We didn't come to America because we wanted to We came because we had no choice.
0:49:26
Africa is helping us survive.
0:49:28
Survival, but we need better treatment.
0:49:31
Please help us.
0:49:32
There are so many young kids like me.
0:49:35
Some in shelters, others are this are on the streets.
0:49:38
Every 60 days we have to renew our shelter stay, which makes it hard to focus on school.
0:49:44
Attendance is everything.
0:49:46
And when you are trying to learn English or attend after school programs, missing days is devastating.
0:49:52
I'm lucky what not everyone is.
0:49:55
Not everyone has someone to help them.
0:49:58
Thank you.