Tatoun village is a large village in Egypt, located 150 Km from Cairo. The villagers primarily rely on agriculture and trade as their main sources of income. The population of the village is 70 thousand, with 15 thousand of them living in Italy. The village has lost more than 300 of its residents to illegal immigration, with most of their fates unknown. Despite all this, the villagers still strive to travel abroad. Reasons for Migration The main reasons for the migration of the village’s residents are that they have lost hope in finding jobs that guarantee them a decent life. Young people graduate from universities and cannot find work. Additionally, the new generation's ambition not to follow the same path as their farmer parents has driven many to consider migration. The rapid wealth achieved by the first migrants from the village has enticed the youth to choose Europe as their preferred destination. Child Migration Child migration, or the migration of those under 18, is widespread in the village because their chances of obtaining residency and living officially in Italy are guaranteed. After arriving in Italy, they enroll in schools or shelters, learn the Italian language, and some learn a trade in school. After turning 18, they receive residency and have complete freedom in their lives thereafter. My Connection to the Project The project resonates with me because I was born and have lived my entire life in the same village, witnessing and being directly affected by the changes that have touched me through my friends and neighbors who left the village and migrated to Europe on a journey akin to suicide. My cousin, several childhood friends, and the siblings of my friends all went missing on their way to Europe, influenced by the changes in the village and in hopes of keeping up with these changes and achieving their dreams through migration. I constantly fear the impact of these changes on me and wonder if circumstances might one day force me to be one of those boarding the boats or walking across European borders through forests and mountains to reach Europe. Especially since some of my relatives and friends, as well as myself, never imagined they would embark on this deadly journey. Through this project, I explore the motivations of my village’s residents to undertake this fatal journey, share the pain of the families of the missing, document the suffering of the survivors, and search for my childhood friends who have disappeared from the village.