Six-part podcast, in production

A rescue worker’s search

It is the autumn of 2015. Thousands of people are attempting the life-threatening crossing from Turkey and Libya towards Europe. Rob Timmerman is watching the Jeugdjournaal with his children in his Vinex home in Houten. Upon seeing all those people fleeing, something snaps within him. He decides to leave for Greece as a volunteer aid worker; a few months later, he is on a ship for his first rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea.

During this and subsequent missions, Rob and his colleagues saved more than two thousand people from drowning. There is one image that Rob will never forget: in the midst of the panic of yet another rescue operation, he is handed a package. Rob is about to throw the package into the sea, as all excess baggage must be tossed overboard. But then he sees that it is a few weeks old baby. While people are fighting for their lives in the water, the baby continues to sleep peacefully, snoring away.

Her name turns out to be Sarah. Two days later, her mother walks carefully down the gangway of the ship carrying the child on her arm, as they arrive at the port of Messina. The hopeful image of the baby becomes an important anchor for Rob. He uses her photo when he speaks about his work during lectures, and not a day goes by when he doesn't think of her. He envisions a happy toddler with a mother who has found a new home in a European country. But is that accurate? He only ever experienced the euphoria of the rescue, but has no idea what happens after that.

"Where is Sarah?" is a search for the baby from five years ago, but also a quest for answers to larger ethical questions. Why is it important for Rob to know if she is doing well? What if reality proves to be more difficult than he imagined, how does that affect his motivation as an aid worker?

The podcast also tells the larger story of Europe and our refugee policy. Since Rob went on his first mission, a lot has changed. In 2015, the world was moved by the image of the washed-up boy Alan Kurdi. European rescue operations were widely accepted. Nowadays, initiatives like Sea-Watch are severely hindered. Lawsuits are being brought against rescuers, and pushbacks by the Libyan coast guard with the help of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex are a daily occurrence. Rob experiences these changes firsthand from the ship. How is it possible that we have arrived at this point in such a short time?

About the creators

Rob Timmerman (1975) worked as a children's television program maker until 2016. After experiencing a burnout, he decided to make a major change in his life. He went to Greece to help refugees, first in the camps and later at sea. Nowadays, Rob spends three out of every nine weeks at sea. When he is back home in the Netherlands, he works for the Salvation Army and gives lectures to businesses about his search for a meaningful life.

Radio producer Laura Stek (1983) follows Rob in his search for Sarah. She takes on the role of an outsider and journalist, asking Rob critical questions and interviewing experts and people with relevant experiences for more context. Throughout the podcast, Laura tries to understand why Rob is so eager to know where Sarah is. What happens to him and his motivation for his work as a helper if he doesn't get confirmation that Sarah is leading a good life in Europe?