International Migrants Day
Context
Irregular migration is a silent pandemic that affects young people around the world. In search of a livelihood and a sense of purpose, many young people fall victim to a well-orchestrated clandestine trade that greatly benefits the agents of illegal migration. Those who set out on the road have little knowledge of what to expect in their destination country. The agents take advantage of this and adopt an irresponsible attitude.
The origin of the IDAY network was inspired by the message left by Yaguine and Fodé, two young Guineans found dead in the landing gear of a plane in Brussels. It was the 02nd of August 1999. In their letter, addressed to European officials, Yaguine and Fodé wrote their distress and called for help for African youth.
The challenges of the 21st century amplified by the greed of the industrial and financial sector (soil and water pollution, human exploitation, land grabbing, deforestation …) and climate disruption are terrible threats for African youth.
By 2050, there will be 2.7 billion inhabitants on the African continent. This continent will therefore offer humanity one in four active young people. We must fully unleash the potential of these young people by encouraging an approach that allows them to grow up in a decent environment and to participate in the development of an African society that is in tune with the challenges of our time, particularly in terms of sustainable development. If we support them, the ambitions and achievements of African youth will be able to meet the challenges of today.
Click here to discover the meeting between the students of Devlop’Kot and the President of IDAY-International, Moussa Issifou, the Vice-president, George Obiero and the Secretary, Aïssatou Diouf. They answered questions on the theme of clandestine emigration.
December 18th
On the occasion of the International Migrants Day, on December 18th, the coalitions of the IDAY-International network set up actions of sensitization and advocacy towards their government but also towards the students with the theme “Africa, my home, my hope”. These actions give the young people the opportunity to reflect on who they are and what they wish to achieve in their own country. The idea is to organize participatory group activities on the theme of illegal emigration and to propose to the youth to talk about role models or heroes, i.e. local people who have succeeded in their own region.
Activities on the theme “Africa, my home, my hope” (for students aged 12-15):
> Organize a participatory group activity on the theme of illegal migration and what we, as children, can do to stop it.
> Invite children to express their ideas or talk about their heroes through a production: poetry, story, drawing, or short play.
Works can be submitted in written or drawn form. Short videos of up to 3 minutes are also welcome.
-> A book with the 3 best productions of each IDAY coalition will be printed and given to the competent authorities so that the messages of the young people reach them.
Objectives
- Towards the young people:
> To make young people aware of the fact that there are heroes in their country, in their village, that they can become heroes.
> To open a space for dialogue on the risks of clandestine emigration: if you want to travel, organize yourself in a legal way.
> To enlighten young people on the realities of Europe for a migrant.
> To give confidence to young people, to take care of their self-esteem.
> To value the professional training. If they are enterprising enough to leave, they can put this entrepreneurial impulse to good use in their country.
> To make known the role of the civil society active in their country and which works for a better future for the African youth.
- Towards the authorities:
> Strengthen the educational systems.
> Enhance the value of professional schools
> To listen to the youth.
A joint book of the IDAY coalitions includes the productions of the young people of the different countries and will be printed and handed over to the competent authorities so that the messages of the young people reach them. Click here to discover it!
