MAJaC launches UPCIM project to counter irregular migration

The project seeks to address irregular migration by empowering the county’s youth with the necessary media-related skills, thus providing them with opportunities for sustainable employment and entrepreneurship ventures. 

It also seeks to tackle the root causes associated with irregular migration such as unemployment, underemployment and hopelessness. A cohort of forty-eight (48) Gambian youth will undergo an intensive nine-month training programme in Film & Photography, Communication, and Digital Media Production & Management. 

At the event, Sang Mendy, managing director of MAJaC, who is also GAMES project manager in The Gambia, recalled that between 2016 and 2021, Gambians especially the youth were promised of reforms, jobs and growth, but not much has happened.

The citizens, he went on, are still awaiting on those promises, adding that youths are yet to take the lead as active citizens in holding government and duty bearers accountable.

“Instead, they are opting for the back-way in search of greener pasture, because they are guided with the belief that Europe is the only solution.”

MD Mendy revealed that some of these youths are in fact encouraged by their parents, families, friends and society to take on this perilous sea journey. 

“It is sad that some families even sell their livestock or landed property to send their sons and daughters on this dangerous route. Therefore, without a change of attitude and approach, The Gambia will continue to make headlines in the irregular migration index.”

Ismaila Danso, deputy permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade IE, acknowledged that one of the drivers of irregular migration is unemployment.

“Lack of access to employment opportunities among Gambian youth is widely cited as a major contributing factor to irregular migration.”

DPS Danso made reference to the 2018 Gambia Labour Force Survey, where 95 per cent of Gambian irregular migrants surveyed cited lack of work as their primary reason for migrating.

 “More often than not, lack of access to employment opportunities is a result of lack of skills. It is therefore reasonable to argue that one of the root causes of unemployment as a driver of irregular migration is the lack of skills for available jobs or for self-employment. Therefore, addressing the issue of unemployment as one of the drivers of irregular migration requires addressing the root cause of skills gaps.”

To address the issue of skills gaps, DPS Danso reiterated the need for more investment in human capital development by promoting entrepreneurship, education, vocational training and skills development programmes and partnerships for productive employment creation.

That, he said, is in line with labour market needs, as well as in cooperation with the private sector and trade unions, with a view to reducing youth unemployment.

Marianne Frederiksen, GAMES project manager based in Denmark, reminded that the ambition of the project is to equip the youth enrolled in the programme with the requisite skills, to be able to shape their own future and sustain their living.

“We hope by implementing this project, we will be able to make a little change in the life of some young migrants – and we know for sure that the partnership will leave MAJAC capacitated to be even more successful as a relevant training academy.”