By: Binta Jaiteh
A Gambian “backway” returnee has urged young people to avoid irregular migration, warning that the journey is fraught with danger and has claimed the lives of thousands of migrants.
Rose Johnson, Executive Director of Hope for the Future, made the urge in an interview with The Voice Newspaper, where she recounted her experience and called for greater efforts to address the root causes of irregular migration.
Johnson said many young people embarked on the journey believing they would quickly find better opportunities abroad, often influenced by images shared on social media that do not reflect the realities faced by migrants.
“I survived the journey after being sold into the Arab world. Many young people are obsessed with travelling without understanding the dangers involved,” she remarked.
She says migrant returnees, particularly women, often face stigma and discrimination upon returning home.
“We are bullied and called different names. I went through a lot of hardships during the journey,” Johnson said.
She urged the public not to view returnees as failures, saying many had risked their lives in an effort to improve the living conditions of their families.
Reflecting on her experience, Johnson said she decided to embark on the journey during The Gambia’s 2016-2017 political impasse as the main breadwinner of her family.
She said many migrants died or disappeared during the journey and that the number of casualties continued to rise.
Following her return, Johnson establishes Hope for the Future, an organization that supports young women, particularly female migrant returnees, through empowerment and advocacy programmes.
She identified the high cost of living and widespread youth unemployment as major drivers of irregular migration, arguing that meaningful employment opportunities were essential to reducing the phenomenon.
Johnson also linked high unemployment rate to rising crime, calling on the government to expand job creation initiatives for young people.
She urged Gambian youth to remain determined and seek opportunities at home rather than risking their lives through irregular migration.
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