Kingsley: If you come from a poor family, you always stay in a poor family til you die.

My name is Kingsley. I'm 23-years old. I've been working in Cameroon as a lifeguard for about three years.

I really loved the job while I was working there. But the salary was very, very discouraging.

Equivalent to 50 Euro. That's all I was earning, per month. All of my salary was just for feeding. Hospital, clothing, paying my house rent, paying electricity, water.

Presently in my country, things are very, very hard. My father is named Clement. He's working in a plantation. My mom she's buying fresh fish and smoke. That's our business she is doing.

I'm having seven brothers and sisters. They are not having a good living. Very, very difficult life. They couldn't even help me to complete my education. I have to struggle to have a better life in order to help my parents. So from this I decided to develop an idea of getting out to Europe.

Everybody in my country they are looking for a solution for their children to get to Europe and helping their family behind.

By the time I was about to leave I was not having enough money. So my parents said they would see what they are going to do to help me.

They decided to give me their money because they have that confidence in me. They have that love in me.

The amount they give me, I was not expecting that. Told me not to change my character. Be honest wherever you go.

You are the head of this family. Please don't forget your family. Each time I think of that it really touches me. Each time.

I was very, very, very excited. Happy that I'm going to Europe. At the same time I was sad, leaving my family, leaving my friends, leaving my country. Not knowing what is ahead of me.

It was really, really hot over there. And so I bought a fuller.

I can't even count how many times we have engine problems.

I met with some Ghanaians. They advised me to be very, very, very careful in the desert. Because in the desert there are criminals and robbers. At times, the drivers also abandoned passengers in the desert. So I should just pray for my God to be fortunate because it might happen. No one knows tomorrow.

People were coming closer to the car, "Are you about to go to Morocco? Are you about to go to Algeria? Are you about to go to Libya?" Everybody was there to give advice, advice, advice. Even the young child of 12 years is about to give you advice.

I discovered that in that town, almost every person is talking only about crossing the desert for Europe. I spend some days in Agadez looking for a confidential person. I come to discover that I'm not longer in my country. I was somehow discouraged about my journey.

I suffered in this town. Everything I eat in this town that I put in my mouth is sand. It was terrible.

I was really scared not to fall off from the car because I was sitting just at the side at the edge of the car. And behind me there was guys fighting. Get off my leg, my leg, please my leg.

So the next day we continue our journey early in the morning. We supposed to drive until about 11 or 12 and then the driver has to stop because the desert is too hot and the engine become very, very warm so we have to rest.

The more we driving the more we suffer from heat, sun and dust.

I met another guy called Farid, Algerian. He had some ideas about my journey. So he proposed to me if I would like to visit his family’s house. I said no problem.

They were very kind to me, this family. They fed me twice in that day. The two nephews, they so were so very, very close to me. It was very fantastic to be with them.

They couldn't speak French nor English. I myself I can't speak Arabic. They invited me for a swim. I said I can not go since I was not legally in their country. They never knew that.

So the next day early in the morning I have to leave. One of his nephews accompanied me to the border. Before leaving, I couldn't even say goodbye to these two young angels.

Finally I got in contact with one Senegalese who proposed for me to come to his ghetto. There were so many, many guys that came in. He tell me to wait for him to go for someone who is going to lead me to cross the ocean. He kept me there in the ghetto qithout calling me, without telling me anything. I spent all that full month of August in that ghetto. Sad, sad, sad. I even cry at night.

It was miserable for me. I lose contact with my family. I'm going to die like this. My family would not even see my corpse. I was lost. I was really, really lost.

Finally he called me. He's telling me you will be traveling next week, so I will be coming for you tomorrow.

We arrive Nador. There is a forest there. There are about 3000 person living in there. They are living group by group according to their nationality. There's Cameroonian, Nigerian, Senegalese, Malian.

They told us under these prickly trees we are going to live there. We should come out only when it's dark. They give us drinking water, bread with some sardines. We have to dig under these trees to create our sleeping position.

We spent two weeks, these guys arrive. They brought small wooden boat with holes everywhere.

So we carry the boat into the water. The captain was struggling to cross the waves. He struggled and he succeeded crossing the first four waves. The 5th wave capsized the boat. The boat, it sank.

I decided to turn back in to help some guys. I brought him out to the shore. Guys were crying out, my brother. People were shouting. We lost two persons. One Cameroonian and one Senegalese. They are dead they are dead. We should leave because maybe officers might arrive here at any time. It's risky for us to stay and look for their corpse.

The next day they told us they are going to repair the same boat. I see nothing that guarantees me that this boat can sail and cross the Atlantic Ocean. We are all discouraged.

Four person said they are going back. They are not ready to die. By then we are really thirsty. Some people haven't drunk anything since morning.

The captain successfully crossed the waves. Water was getting in everywhere. Rapidly. People become more and more frightened. Guys were shouting, "Hey captain, turn back, turn back, turn back!"

They told us nobody should make any move. Our boat might capsize, so they were calling us one after each. We were very, very happy. Now my life is safe.

They accompanied us at the entrance. They said that's Spain. But don't create problems. We have succeeded.

I contacted my only friend. We have grown up together. He's married to a French woman living in France. So I phone him and let him know that I've arrived.

At the train station I was there waiting for my friend. He arrived behind me and when he touched me it was a joy. Shouting, rejoicing. It was something marvelous.

Later he carried me with his car to his house. Met his wife. We spent all our time talking. That day was really an exciting one.

Crossing the ocean, the desert, that was the only way for me to make it out. And I did it.

When I got my papers I was very, very happy. I can say, I was one of the happiest person that day on Earth.

Since arriving in France, it was very, very difficult. I was even thinking going back to my country. I work on machines in a small printing press. Pilling papers, busting holes in papers.

My salary here is also not a good salary. My family, I send them money. What I think I can do on my part. All my life here is work.

In my country I was having my social life, visit my family, visit friends, have fun time. Lately, I don't have no fun time. Nothing.

I'm still hoping to further my electrical education here. To go for a better job. Everything is determination. I know with time things will be OK.

Photojournalist Olivier Jobard: Do you want to say anything else?

Kingsley: No.