coming together to face the very thing that would extinguish our life. this. is not one of those moments. this is a moment for pretty much the opposite. is also. saving humankind by really really not getting mirrors. we're playing games staring at screens staring at any. of the stuff you see. every generation has its moments where individual sacrifice makes way for the good of those who come after. higher purpose. this one is ours.

hello welcome to rewind i'm richelle carey here at al-jazeera english we have built a library of award winning documentaries over the past decade and on rewind we're taking another look at some of the very best of them this week on back to 2010 and al-jazeera follow a heartwarming story of one man's determination to leave the poverty of us west african home in the liberian capital of monrovia risking his life to cross the sahara desert on the back of a pickup truck and the hope of a better life in the west his name is joseph lamo and his drive to make a new life for his family was fraught with setbacks from 2010 here's the extraordinary story. one man's journey from liberia to the shores of america's

great lakes this is joe says turning. to. think. where you came in where you. yeah i see the green truck yeah you're in for the green jacket can see you and know that truck you see the cars just because they seem to be in the superstore. now or on the right we need to. cut. the power off but he's not the one i think. oh i'm a really bad idea that the. man after 2 years of manhattan i 1st met joseph

blamo while covering a story on illegal immigration. that was a chance encounter 2 years ago and little did i know that joseph journey would take him from the sahara desert all the way to new york city. this is the way out of africa the sahara desert begins just outside the town of cows in the north east of mali. thousands of sub-saharan africans come through here every year many without documents but with enough money to pay for a truck ride across the desert. the smuggling of people is a big business here and we couldn't risk filming in town that's why we're out here in the desert trying to meet up with the travellers already on their way tell jerry . ok 50 kilometers out of town is where the smuggling route begins. we wait until nightfall when most of the pickup trucks leave. traveling on

the smugglers route we came across this broken down vehicle with about 20 guys inside all going to algeria and then on to libya and some even to europe. let me see. my tire my tire busted while traveling in the desert the passengers know the dangers of traveling in the desert packed into old vehicles joseph is from liberia this is his 2nd attempt to cross the border. saw people even though a better him a present. of migrant yes yes migrants what kind of. know what in him up question about what often ina does it want but. somehow they get the truck running again and it's time to go. tens of thousands make trips just like this one it's dangerous people fall off the back in breakdowns leave entire

groups stranded hundreds continue to die a year after year these young men have already come a long way conditions are tough but nothing will stop them after reaching. their will look for transport either libya or morocco the launching pads for southern europe but for now they still have 400 kilometers of desert in mali on a 27 year old toyota pickup. back in liberia. older brother received bad news. just a journey ended when he was caught by the algerian peace. we don't know how those were real actual migrants. i don't one but i was from concerned with very vicious to do with migrants. the authorities took his belongings in abandoned him on the mali inside of the desert border. the family was worried they came together and

raised $150.00 us dollars hoping he would come home and call us and it was i knew i would see that. no company would see the money or the time that he summoned to come back. to life. mr and mrs blom were upset with their son and hadn't even told them where he was going and you know what food. had bought at the window. it won't cost to the $1.00 i want with bill. and with him things like this let me give you my blessing. juice it was back but liberia hadn't changed. just it has a computer science certificate from a vocational college but it's not enough for stable employment here they were

calling boats at the beach was still the only job available to him and his friends . i'm fed up you don't know and then i doubt. you know. there's. juice if wanted out once again so he took a chance in played what is called the u.s. green card lottery if you win you can live and work in the united states legally. something. most. people. so. money was long ago. but finally a glimmer of hope he was randomly selected for a crucial interview at the american embassy here in monrovia it seemed like joseph

luck was finally changing. its josephs big morning but it's important for everyone with a job in the u.s. to sift can be a vital life to his father's household of 15 people. that is also what is the atheist who said thank you for all who you think. well i just said. i will find out if you will but i want. to like you know. even. now i'm feeling very much for. the non-positive that. i'm in love. with to go to.

a few steps away is the american embassy in the interview that could change you seems like. more than $13000000.00 people from around the world play the lottery each year. but the u.s. government only grants $50000.00 visas. millions of the lottery entries come from places like liberia which was recently torn apart by a vicious civil war. 70 percent of the people here live in poverty. blamo is not the only one trying to leave. what are the chances. better to he ever could have imagined.

they were. doing well we're going to see myself getting never ever. gambon if the walking i want to have. to go they were like. so that there's so many to talk. work. a convoy of 3 cars carrying 34 people bring joseph to the airport for a late night flight. his immediate family staying the closest to him.

oh i don't know. what i was going to. do you were. ever was. going to. i'm. all good. but i'm nobody. it's the start of a new life for joseph blama. he's one of a 1000000 legal immigrants who enter the u.s. each year in new york city is his port of entry. joke. let's hope. we all use those up just for everyone and i

welcome you to the yacht. and i wish all the best kept that in your back you've got to get up and go for we think you can do so. just of has a sister he hasn't seen in years who lives in the state of pennsylvania but he wants to test the waters here 1st he has an acquaintance who lives on staten island this is a good place. from my childhood days i'll smallville watching the news seeing me on the street so i'm very much helping a little from a set. up. but i think doesn't without you know how my sister in pennsylvania. hello truth. ok what i'm going to do when i cross or break i'm going to call you back.

i don't know if that's your us i thought of this moment you know i know you have to do is good. truck on is also from liberia and they knew each other through a friend back home. well there is a son known for that as well they are really the park kill housing project was also truck on its 1st stop in america that was in 1909 and he's been here ever since. most if you. are one of the differences number. one. he lives here with his 2 sons and his

cousin in after the long trip this is where joseph will spend his 1st night in america. yeah just. a. lot like. the good news all told. the media. and i missed. the news. is jam packed to capacity it is

a cycle is that. the intervening come together and. when it was a day that i would feel good even when people seem to say yes there's. a lot of good will not make it good these only so many ways and so we need a while i mean. that evening truck on take out on the town. to. make sure just as the program was 000000. this is no longer the. most of truculence friends are like therians who have been in the us for years in they still believe they are living the american dream is the 4th of what it was felt that i must. have my little brother will have to come out of you.

i'll go through your heart you. should. be gentle. you know that's my right no making me feel i'm me i married my somebody you come to love you're nobody at all and then you make. me look just like you i want to marry you really want to but i don't see this park there was a park hill is bustling with house parties on saturday night. in one of truculence friends is celebrating his birthday was was. the music and faces are familiar but the atmosphere has an edge. to see if it's finding it hard to fit in. and he's alarmed when a fist fight breaks out of the party. juice it isn't in danger but he doesn't want trouble. but my god he.

was good it was. was by. joseph has seen enough. the next morning joseph is on a greyhound bus. he thinks the liberians he met in new york have lost their focus in news that his sister will provide a more solid foundation for his new life. what joseph doesn't know is that he is heading straight into an economic crisis. erie pennsylvania is in the middle of america's dying manufacturing region. joseph is hoping to find work in a place where jobs are disappearing. i think he believes that that doesn't have to

. have an effect. he said. you still hear that perfect. credit for jobs. once again joseph is prepared to take a chance. oh. aneta hasn't seen her little brother since she immigrated to the u.s. in 2004. she came here after liberia's civil war as a political refugee from. the u.s. government set her up in erie in her job as a caregiver has provided a good life for her family her children now see more american in liberia and. new moon is my favorite scene is when the anyone doing it will tear basically to save and where you she told you she's in that thing that you leave with you if you

continue to think and they say grazie if i was. ok on the basis that you know the only thing ok. if you put. her over the 4th of july marks america's independence day and then it brings the family to a public picnic and it's josephs 1st real look at middle america and your feet. you'll be looking at paradise. city streets are early i'll. give you the speech easy you. just don't feel i'm even. thinking about you so far down the aisle can just sit down you know snark and just sit. here and speak. enjoy doing your. report on how the little you doing that used to be. he can think about his future tomorrow

today is finally content. just as johnny an incredible insight into one my prince pursuit of the american dream that was more than 8 years ago now and i'm sure you're wondering whatever happened to joseph rewind went back recently to arion pennsylvania to find out how life is new don for joseph since we last saw. i came to you he tells you to. join you in the summertime it was nice 1st came because it was just like africa the well. it was good. because my sister lives here so i choose you if. you want to go somewhere else where i don't know anybody was going to i thought it was going to be

hard for me to get started. at the end of the year we know style you know what in the winter bought in a very much a similar. first went off and then the snow started fall out was my 1st time to see snow back in africa i only used to see snow on watching movies on t.v. i have no excuse that it was surprising to me so i was the 1st time a little what do we know how or why. this new just out of fall fall for it was so amazing to me joy of a 1st time. our 1st game ah how they're in the book and. things were a little bit difficult you know from starting point as time progressed to sterling getting better of both joe starr working as an immigrant although good food costs. will live the american dream you know and i believe i'm living the american dream

because it's better then before you. know how a job can revive see you're still living living good lives living american dream yes or everything is good good. there will be good thing our how to bring a move. here how to move. thing that's only one of the best thing a bit. of fog died. my mom little was in the house with all the kids things were pulling by. because she stayed long time will not follow that marvel of 40 years. i only used to talk to on the phone while i really miss hawk and i wanted to see a lot i wanted to come and see it without. notice how about life experience. on the other cell the war.

to the house work all. this from our own daughter. my mom. who did well from so says brown least 10 years old and women take their own good too it. is my teaching. is that i mean room. and. this will move. and there's more room.

he must feel that i can make you can do anything that i won't do to see we've got it all in circumstances i'll stick with it coming a week. just coming to come the google album i'll just put to death so that's why i believe in myself as i get on a dude that remind me every day well look up in the morning legs go out with a bible i see you only don't believe. yeah i got it out above my head up evil so joseph is from like area this is a 2nd attempt to cross the border. the 1st you have to go back to them or above quote one of the most so. and i do know once you did your book. a few of the sources on the progress. being here in

america i'm sitting now i'm settled down here. i get a house i've got a job i've got a car. and. the struggle to struggle continues but i leave. a huge distance from but i did so now. of course huge distance. that's it for this week and you can find out more about joseph incredible story and watch other films from the series by going to the rewind page on the al jazeera website but for now until next time the back. they can bring your people back to life i'm sorry what dates on the best of al-jazeera is documentaries in libya close the book of the books and know all you

like and the other student rewind continues with spirit trying to do stories that have impact on society i testify in the court of law to make sure that the bad guys i put behind bars so many people have gone to jail as a result of my way rewind on al-jazeera. frank assessments why is italy struggling to cope with the number of coronavirus failure to take really aggressive action with them behind the curtain and in-depth analysis of the day's global headlines inside story on al-jazeera to otis their own we heard let me ask you how worried you are about the increase in hostilities in yemen we listen this is the moment to stop all the 30 action this is the moment to

also try to put on fighting over the idea we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter although just 0. china plans to impose a new security law in hong kong and clamp down than anything that cool subversive. down in jordan this is down to 0 alive and also coming up parts of eastern india and bangladesh are picking up the pieces after a powerful cyclon swept through killing more than 80 people.