Workshop
Med25 Bel Espoir: “To understand a person’s words, you need to know the experiences they have lived”
Interview with Majdi Abdallah, a youth from Palestine travelling on the school ship of peace, Med25 Bel Espoir. An emotional story based on the dialogue in the Mediterranean, the relations and of hope born aboard.
The Med25 Bel Espoir is a ship but also – and especially – a school: a school of peace that in 8 months of journey – from the month of March to October 2025 – welcomed 200 youth from all over the world and has docked in thirty Mediterranean ports. It has connected five shores of this sea that often divides but is capable of uniting, of becoming dialogue, encounter, and as such should be experienced and conceived.
On board the Bel Espoir, eight groups of youth took turns: twenty-five at a time, from different nationalities, cultures, and religions — all committed to peace. Among them, from the 4th to the 17th of august, was Majdi Abdallah, a young man from Palestine, who shared with us, through this interview, his emotions, memories and the lessons he learned from this experience.
When and how did you decide to take part in the Bel Espoir ship experience?
In the month of April of this year, thinking it would be an opportunity to make friends and build peace from a lower level.
When did you board, and how long did you stay?
I arrived in Tirana, Albania, on the 4th of August, and we set sail two days later from Durrës. We stayed in the Adriatic and Mediterranean for nine days, docking on the Croatian islands and along that country’s coast. Then we arrived in Trieste, Italy, where we stayed for another two days.
How were your days on the Bel Espoir organized? Can you describe them?
The alarm was at 8 a.m., and if the boat was anchored, I would go for a swim in the sea. Then I’d have a fairly simple breakfast: a piece of bread with some spread and a coffee. I usually prayed alone or with other friends on board. After that, we met for a sharing session. For one hour a day, we would express and exchange our experiences, ideas, and perspectives on a theme related to peace in the Mediterranean. The focus of the trip was the phenomenon of migration and the movement of people across the Mediterranean. The dialogue among different perspectives was recorded daily to be included in the final book — the result of all the Med25 Bel Espoir journeys.Inizio modulo
What was your relationship like with the other girls and boys from different nations, cultures, and religions?
It was a relationship based on respect and joy. Living together on a boat creates very intense bonds and naturally makes relationships between people deeper. You become more considerate of others and more attentive to their needs.
Do you have any anecdotes to share about daily life aboard the Bel Espoir ship and your relations with the other participants?
I have several starting from small things, like someone sharing the last slice of cake with you without you even asking, simply because it was the last one, to the time when we were in Albania and a Moroccan girl didn’t receive her visa to enter the European Union. I remember the friendship and closeness that everyone showed her; it was truly moving, as was the hospitality of our friends in Albania and Trieste. Potable water and food were always just enough to meet our needs, and we didn’t waste anything. Once, when we arrived at a port in Croatia, the port officers gave us a free supply of water for our entire stay.
How did you approach this journey?
The feelings and memories I have when I think back of this trip are of deep gratitude. Seeing the ship as a school of life was the right way to make the most of this experience.
Were there moments of difficulty, fatigue, or tiredness?
On the first day, because of the rough sea, most of us felt sick or were afraid. For a few hours, I stayed apart from everyone else and managed not to feel unwell. But when I rejoined the others and saw so many pale, suffering faces, I immediately started to feel sick too and ended up vomiting. After a short rest, though, as soon as I was able, I went back to help those who were still struggling.
What do you carry with you today from this experience?
Through this journey, I can say that my faith, my hope, and my capacity to love have grown — and this is priceless. I feel more confident in my vocation, especially because I have gained more brothers and sisters: exactly the gift the Master promised to those who follow Him. Now that I’m back on land, I try to see every person I meet as vulnerable as we all were on that first day at sea. I want to bring peace into people’s hearts and nurture trust in relationships, because for me, these are the solid foundations for political stability and for ending armed conflicts on an international level.
Was there someone you bonded with in a special way, someone you didn’t expect?
I bonded with everyone on the boat — with each person in a special way — and I expected that. That’s why I got on the boat.
What is the most important lesson you learned from this experience?
That to understand a person’s words, you need to know the experiences they have lived.
How much did the Bel Espoir experience teach you about dialogue and peace?
It taught me enough to keep believing in and committing myself to a world of peace.
What is the most cherished memory you keep in your heart today after this experience?
Every moment was special — perhaps the serene faces of all the participants after the wind had calmed and the sun rose in a clear sky.
