A 12-year-old refugee's harrowing escape from Afghanistan
Gulwali Passerlay was just 12 years old when his mother paid human traffickers to get him out of Afghanistan. It was expected to be a difficult trip, but it became a year-long odyssey of suffering, abuse, deprivation and only occasional kindness. He shares his story.
In 2006, when Gulwali Passarlay was 12-years-old, he left Afghanistan on a perilous journey, which included being taken by smugglers to that same Greek island.
"My mother saved my life by sending me away, but she also lost me."- Gulwali Passarlay
Now Gulwali Passarlay is telling his story in a memoir, called "The Lightless Sky: A Twelve-Year-Old Refugee's Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half the World."
Gulwali Passarlay joined Anna Maria from Manchester, England.
This segment was produced by The Current's Howard Goldenthal.