grew up from the natural confidence that comes with childhood into the reality that they have to contend with as adults, instead of becoming stronger and more capable, they, in fact, become more and more helpless, desperate, desolate and of course, full of anger. Why not? Can you imagine a more meaninglessly frustrating situation for a young person to be in? So, when I was asked to write a play on Statelessness I decided that this would be what I focused on. The wasted potential of a young, talented human being – in this play a young, high achieving girl - who is just not allowed to live and function independently because of a technicality of not having a nationality. The character in this play carries with her a box file full of certificates that she has won through her entire childhood – certificates for her outstanding abilities in studies, in sports, in the arts and in all sorts of important life skills. However, without the one certificate that certifies that she is born, that she is a citizen, that she exists, none of these other certificates matter at all. It was this picture and story that I wanted to put together with this monologue. It was this image I wanted people to carry home with them. The potential of a young, enthusiastic and hopeful life which will not be allowed to bloom. A child standing in front of a room of adults, asking them, in the simplest of language, how come the structures they have created mean that she does not exist. I, myself have two young daughters. When I was writing the script I tried to imagine what my children would feel like if they were everything they were but they didn’t have a nationality. I read many stories and accounts of stateless children from all over the world and with each of these children I saw such tremendous potential as human beings – and also such waste, for it was clear that as they I wish this were just a play. I wish so much it was not a reality. I wish so much it was not the reality of millions of children living in the world today. 18