The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) has officially launched the Kanifing Migrant Resilience Hub, a new initiative designed to support 20 returning migrants in rebuilding their lives and achieving sustainable reintegration.
Launched under the leadership of Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the Hub is supported by the Mayors Migration Council's Global Cities Fund 2025. It will connect returning migrants with essential services, resources, and opportunities to strengthen their resilience, livelihoods, and confidence to restart at home.
The launch marks a significant step in KMC's commitment to inclusive development and to ensuring that returnees reintegrate with dignity and contribute meaningfully to the municipality and the country.
The Hub is the first project KMC has built specifically for returnees. Addressing the 20 selected participants, Mayor Bensouda said the initiative was born out of a painful reality facing many families in Kanifing.
"Every year, too many of our young people take the backway. They leave because they feel there is no opportunity at home. Some never arrive. Some are stranded, and some are hurt along the way," he said. "Those of you in this room are the ones who came back. That took courage. It takes just as much courage to start again here, with very little, and decide to build."
The Mayor said his vision is to make Kanifing a place where young people do not feel forced to leave to succeed, but can start a business, create jobs, and thrive locally.
He praised the diverse business ideas proposed by the participants, including Sulayman's waste collection business, Mariama's delivery service, Musa's tailoring, Sainey's car painting workshop, as well as catering, hairdressing, and fashion enterprises.
"Every one of them has great potential. Each of these businesses can give you a livelihood. And each one can do more than that. It can create jobs for others, buy from other local businesses, and bring money into the local economy," Bensouda noted.
The Hub goes beyond business support. To ensure participants can focus fully on their enterprises, KMC has included a childcare centre on site and access to psychosocial support services for parents and families.
"You will work hard over the coming months. You will learn, and some days it will be difficult. But I want you to remember that this council believes in you. We did not choose you out of charity. We chose you because we think you can succeed," the Mayor told the cohort.
Through the Resilience Hub, KMC aims to strengthen collaboration with stakeholders, including Startup Incubator Gambia, to create lasting opportunities for returnees.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive community where everyone, including returning migrants, has the opportunity to thrive.
