Tensai fled Eritrea in search of safety and a new life.

In this powerful short film, he shares his experience of imprisonment in Eritrea and the extraordinary journey that followed — including escaping the country as a stowaway.

Told simply in Tensai’s own words, his story offers a deeply personal insight into the danger, uncertainty and difficult choices faced by people forced to leave their homes in search of safety.

This was a self-initiated project created by Change the Lens for Storehouse, rather than a commissioned piece. We wanted to use film to give Tensai the space to tell his story in his own words, and to help others understand something of the human experience behind seeking asylum.

It was a privilege to capture his story and to do so with the care and dignity it deserves.