I Am Not Your Animal

I Am Not Your Animal

Aline Deschamps

I Am Not Your Animal is a series depicting the daily life of migrant domestic workers from Sierra Leone in Beirut, Lebanon.

The title of the series stems from the extensive discussions Aline Deschamps had with this group of women, most of whom had escaped from abusive households and were victims of human trafficking. One sentence kept being repeated : “They did not treat me like a human, they treated me like an animal.

For months, the women were left stranded in Beirut. Most of them wished to be repatriated back in their home country but did not have the means to – as an unprecedented economic crisis was hitting Lebanon. As they waited, their days were filled with fear, guilt, boredom and, sometimes, hope.

In between the darkness of their small appartement and the burning sun of Lebanon, the series captures the pains and joys, the fear and solidarity, but above all the strength and resilience from this new sisterhood.
By highlighting their power and dignity, I Am Not Your Animal is a visual testimony enabling the shift on how these women should be perceived, thus revealing our common humanity.

A group of former domestic workers from Sierra Leone stand in their kitchen in Tariq El Jdide (Beirut, Lebanon). They are over 20 living in one apartment where they keep welcoming other women from their home country who have escaped abuses or have been left on the street. Lucy, 26, in orange recalls life at her employer’s house :” So I was sitting, and then the family comes. And the boy took the other children to me and he said : ” This is our slave”. I was so shocked. And when you want to talk, the mum would say “I spent a lot of money for you, just to bring you here “Coming to Lebanon was the worst mistake of my life. I asked why they didn’t treat me like a human being. Once, my mistress replied: “you are black, you are not a human, you are an animal”. ” Life in Lebanon is not a nightmare, it is a deadmare.” Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A former domestic worker from Sierra Leone hangs out in her room in Tariq El Jdide. She joined a group of other stranded women from Sierra Leone who have escaped from abuses, or were dumped on the street due to the economic collapse in the country. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Makale, 26, sits on the bed in front of her friends ´ I come to Lebanon to work to find money for my people, I do not come here to do slavery work ª. They are over 20 living in one apartment and they keep welcoming other women from their home country who have escaped abuses or have been left on the street. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Former domestic workers from Sierra Leone rests in her shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A group of former domestic workers from Sierra Leone rest in their shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. They are over 20 living in one apartment and they keep welcoming other women from their home country who have escaped abuses or have been left on the street. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A group of stranded domestic workers from Sierra Leone stay in a shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. They are over 20 in one apartment and hope for repatriation. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Two former domestic workers from Sierra Leone hang out in their shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. They are over 20 living in one apartment and they keep welcoming other women from their home country who have escaped abuses or have been left on the street. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Maria, “Back in Sierra Leone, I as working as a nurse. The agent told me : if I was coming to Lebanon I would be working in an hospital and I would be paid a 1000 dollars per month. Just because the agent told me I would be earning this money, my family decided to make a loan of 2000 dollars to pay the agent’s fees. When I was picked up by a Lebanese man and woman, I asked them “What am I doing here in your house ?” That’s when they said that they paid an agent to have me do their domestic work, but I had never agreed to it.” Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A former domestic worker from Sierra Leone prays in her apartment in Tariq El Jdide. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A former domestic worker from Sierra Leone cooks in her shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A former domestic worker communicates with a relative while she is being stranded in her home in Shatila (Beirut, Lebanon) “We speak to our families everyday, this is the only thing that makes us happy here”. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A former domestic worker from Sierra Leone makes wigs to earn a living while being stranded in her shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
A former domestic worker from Sierra Leone stands in the corridor of her apartment in Tariq El Jdide. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Former domestic workers from Sierra Leone enjoy a day at the beach as they wait for their repatriation. The women know exactly how to rule once they dance. Aware of their power and rights, they utter to the dazzled men around them : ?You can watch, but you can?t snap.? Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Two former domestic workers from Sierra Leone hang out in their shared-house in Tariq El Jdide. ?We do everything together, we cook together, we sleep together. Everything we do is in unity?. They are over 20 living in one apartment and they keep welcoming other women from their home country who have escaped abuses or have been left on the street. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Former domestic workers from Sierra Leone enjoy a day at the beach as they wait for their repatriation. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Former domestic workers from Sierra Leone enjoy a day at the beach as they wait for their repatriation. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
Former domestic workers from Sierra Leone enjoy a day at the beach as they wait for their repatriation. Lebanon accounts some 250,000 migrant women from African and Asian countries and working in private households. Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon are subjected to the kafala system, a private migration sponsorship system in Gulf countries which exponentially increases the risk of labor exploitation, forced labor and trafficking. Lebanon’s economic crisis as well the August 4 blast has left a significant number of migrant workers in a humanitarian crisis.
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