I arrived in France through a lady my brother said would help me. I had lost my parents. My brother was still young and going to school so he couldn’t take care of me. The lady’s daughter came for a holiday and the lady introduced us. She said, “This is my daughter. She will take you with her. You’ll mind her children and she’ll send you to school.” I had just turned 18.
All the time I was with her, I minded her children, but she never made good on her promise. I took care of the children, washed them. I cooked, I cleaned, everything. I never went out because I wasn’t allowed. I couldn’t talk to people, even the neighbours. She didn’t pay me.
One day, she said to me, “Get your things together, we’re going back to Abidjan.”
I didn’t want to go because she hadn’t helped me. Sending me back to Abidjan there was no one there for me.
For three years I worked, kept her children and for three years, she did nothing.
It’s really painful. Now, I feel even though it’s hard, but I prefer this. I prefer this than to stay in such a situation.
As told to the European Commission
