‘Reaching Europe’ is a photographic series by Danish documentary photographer Sofie Amalie Klougart. The series documents the conditions of African migrants after arriving on the Italian coast of Sicily.

Klougart photographs young men from West Africa, often from countries such as Mali, Senegal, Guine-Bissau, Gambia and Ivory Coast, who travel from Libya and risk their lives at sea for a new start in Europe.

She does this at a migrant reception centre in the costal town of Pozallo, which is the migrants first meeting with Europe. "The building is supposed to hold immigrants for a maximum of three days" Sophie says, "but since the Italian migration system has broken down, many of these refugees have been detained for more than 13 days.”

Many leave their native countries for reasons ranging from war, social conflict to lack of employment and opportunities. While many perceive Europe as the land of opportunities, Klougart documents some of the challenges they face once they land on Italian soil.

See more of Sophie Amelia Klougart's work on her website here or follow her on Instagram @sofieamalieklougart