A
5-day intensive training on guidance and counseling for youth on returnees
management wrapped recently at the Bwiam ChildFund Lodge in Foni Kansala
District, West Coast Region.
The
training was part of the collective efforts of the Gambia Government and its
development partners to tackle irregular youth migration.
It
was also to accelerate the collective efforts to re-integrate voluntary
returnees back to the Gambian society.
The
counseling training was organised by the Gambia National Youth Council (NYC) in
collaboration with the Gambia Immigration Department (GID).
It
was supported by the Gambia Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), a four-year
initiative implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership
with the Gambia Government and funded by the European Union.
The
training of the youth counsellors served as a kick-off for a pilot programme to
offer counseling for returning migrants supported by the YEP project.
The
counseling programme included orientation of the returnees on the economic
opportunities, skills development programmes and support mechanisms available
in The Gambia and an assessment of interests, skill sets and needs for possible
linkages with service providers.
Unfavourable
economic conditions, high rates of unemployment as well as difficult political
conditions over the recent years have compelled young Gambians to migrate
through Libya and the Mediterranean Sea to Italy in search of better
livelihood.
According
to the recent International Organization on Migration (IMO) report on Gambia,
it has been estimated that more than 25,000 Gambian irregular migrants are
languishing in refugee camps in Italy jobless.
Majority of these youths have faced serious
conditions during their stay in Libya waiting to pass through to Italy.
As a response to the call by the Gambian
Community in Libya, The Gambia Government through the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs are working closely with the International Organization for Migration
(IOM) to assist stranded young Gambians to return home.
According
to statistics of the Gambia Immigration Department, there have recently been
more than a thousand youths repatriated, and more are expected to arrive soon.
The
training brought together 25 youth counsellors representing youth groups from
regions across the country and stakeholders dealing with youth on irregular
migration issues in the country.
Training
sessions were conducted by seasoned experts from WHO Gambia, the Gambia
Immigration Department, University of the Gambia, the Gambia Red Cross Society
and the Network against Gender-based Violence.
Participants
took part in an aptitude assessment and were trained on techniques and ethics
of guidance and counseling. The training topics included crisis situation
management, psychological distress and depression management, psychological
first aid (PFA) and crisis event simulation.
Jawara
Cham, Chief Inspector of the Gambia Immigration Department, addressed the
participants and noted that some of the core factors of youth irregular
migration to Europe are poverty, limited job opportunities, peer influence and
family pressure, as well as the mindset of youth that life is only possible in
the West.
‘’Let
us educate and sensitize youngsters in our various communities to understand
that one can make a good living in The Gambia,’’ Mr Cham challenged the youth
leaders.
The
lead facilitator of the training, Dawda Samba, Country Facilitator of the
Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Program at the WHO Gambia Office, said
The Gambia should not only be a country that receives its own citizens but
should be prepared to re-integrate these citizens into the communities.
“It
should be our collective responsibility to guide, counsel and help rebuild the
lives of our fellow young people who returned,” he went on.
Explaining
that some of the migrants have faced untold physical, social and emotional
trauma in transit and in the host countries, which may cause invisible mental
scars, which could also extend to their families.
The
Gambia Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) is a four-year project aims to support
youth employment and entrepreneurship in the country to address the economic
root causes of irregular migration from The Gambia.
It
is funded by the European Union (EU) Emergency Trust Fund for Africa with a
total budget of EUR 11 million.
By
improving the employability of youth, especially potential and returning
migrants, increasing income opportunities along value chains and helping young
entrepreneurs to connect to trade and tap into the digital economy, this
project aims to change the current migration trends and contribute to building
the long-term growth and economic competitiveness of The Gambia.
The
International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade
Organization and the United Nations. The organization’s aim is for businesses
in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets, speeding
up economic development and contributing to the achievement of the United
Nations Global Goals for sustainable development.
The
European Union’s Emergency Trust Fund for Africa addresses the root causes of
irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa. More specifically, it
helps address the root causes of destabilization, forced displacement and
irregular migration by promoting economic and equal opportunities,
strengthening security, development and resilience of vulnerable people.
