Migration is not for the faint at heart. It is not an easy journey to uproot from a place of comfort and or familiarity to a place where you have never been, never lived or established close relationships. However, according to the latest data, there are over 217 million international migrants.
Let's look at safe migration. Is there a way to travel without meeting the perils of rejection at borders, dangers of the frightful journey which too often result in death or the fear of criminals along the way; can the migration experience be fun, promising and worthwhile?
“I believe the story of everyone who is or was once a refugee entails resilience and I bring this to every country I go to, including here in Canada. My life inspires so many people that I encounter. More so, I bring different insights and experiences that are invaluable to the community I'm in.”
James originated from South Sudan and now resides in Canada, he is a beneficiary of the refugee program there.
“We will see what happens with time, but for now, I am happy with my life in Niger.”
Abba migrated to Niger from Togo. He is a mechanic and works with the IOM as a community mobilizer.
"As a 24-year-old archeologist, spending 10 months in Athens was a dream come true. I met a lot of people while in Athens and visited all the famous museums and ancient monuments that this historic city has to offer. I was attracted to Greek culture and history like a magnet, I just couldn’t get enough."
Diana migrated from Georgia to Greece, where she discovered her passion and talent for creating postcards and other souvenirs.
Migration is but the pursuit of a dream
There are many positive stories and experiences of migration. The need for asylum, refuge or rescue is not what fuels migration. It is the hope, possibilities, success stories and the pursuit of happiness that drives one's motivation to take such a daunting, potentially dangerous and life altering challenge.
The IOM reports that 40% of U.S. Fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or their children. In 2017, migrants sent home approximately $600 billion in remittances, or roughly 15% of their earnings, back to their countries of origin – that's about three times more than all official development assistance.
Sources: Testimonials from I Am A Migrant by International Organization for Migration (IOM) and data from IOM.
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