At least, 13 Arabic schools across Central River Region (CRR) are to benefit from the Tekki-Fii {make it in Gambia} programme funded by the European Union (EU). Instituto Marques de Valle Flôr (IMVF) in close collaboration with the National Youth Council (NYC), and together with other Tekki-Fii partners, embarked on a 10-day sensitization to 13 Arabic Schools in CRR under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE).
This particular programme, as gathered, is geared towards enlightening the students on the dangers of irregular migration, human trafficking, and highlight the opportunities available for young people in this country.
The objective of this programme is to discuss with the students and staff the available opportunities in The Gambia, and to also sensitize them on the dangers of irregular migration.
Madam Joana Martins, Project Coordinator of IMVF, said the initiative is part of the Tekki-Fii programme which is supported by the EU for the past three years.
According to her, this programme is directed to the youth of the country, and it’s aimed at providing opportunities for every youth to succeed here in The Gambia.
“Before coming here today, we worked with 25 schools in four regions, namely Lower River Region (LRR), Central River Region (CRR), Upper River Region (URR) and North Bank Region (NBR) but none of these 25 schools include Arabic schools, and from the information we got on the field, it is also key to engage the Arabic schools,” she pointed out.
Migration Officer of National Youth Council, Mr. Mustapha Sonko, in his remarks said the Gambia is undoubtedly comprised a very young population. Currently, 60% of the population is youth,and the rate of unemployment in the country stands around 41%, he said. This has resulted to so many youths venturing into irregular migration, noting youths have the conviction that the only place they could make it is Europe.
“Since such migrants might not meet the visa requirement, they therefore venture into using the irregular means,” Sonko stated, as he cited reports by the government of the Gambia and the International Organization for Migration indicating that there are currently 140,000 Gambians abroad, which constitutes approximately 7% of the country’s population of 2 million. Recent data shows that Gambians constituted 6% out of 48% of all arrivals by sea in Italy in the first seven months of 2017.
The NYC Migration official further averred that the Gambia is primarily a country of out-migration with so many young people using the irregular route.
The National Youth Council, he argued, is aware of this phenomenon and they are working tirelessly to curbing irregular migration in The Gambia.
Sonko lamented that many youths have lost their lives in their attempt to get to the dreamland, adding the Council has therefore worked with so many organizations, both locally and internationally, to sensitize the youth as well as support them in making a meaningful living in the country.
The NYC has four migration information centers, serving an avenue where youth could collect vital information on migration as well as look for available opportunities, as he explained. With the help of the IOM, the officers conduct series of community engagements.
“Youth groups supported by Tekki-Fii partners have likewise been conducting awareness raising campaigns and receiving training on migration related issues.”
Sonko told his audience the National Youth Council continues to target the youth in the regions through community sensitization, caravan and school visits. He singled out the Arabic sector/Madrassa as one key component of the youth that is seemingly not well-covered, reasoning that students of these schools are normally not involved in NYC activities.
“It is based on this backdrop, that the Council and the Tekki-Fii Partners deemed it fitting to organize sensitization on the risks of irregular migration and on opportunities in the country targeting the pupils and staff of the Madrassas in the Central River Region of the Gambia,” he justified.
Aware of the fact that the madrassa students are among the most vulnerable people because their curriculum is not tailored to suit their needs upon completion of school; the fact that there is no tertiary institution for these students, and the fact that, little opportunity is available for them, they face the risk of embarking on the perilous journey, the NYC official outlined.
He stressed the engagement would bring staff and students of the Madrassas to discuss the dangers associated with irregular migration and opportunities available for the youth.
Oustass Abdoulie Dem, a native of Njoben village, said such initiative has never happened before in the history of the their village madrassa.
Dem therefore thanked IMVF and partners for taking such a bold step in reaching out to those Arabic schools.
