By Omar Wally
Due to the increase in the number of young people embarking on the perilous ‘backway’ journey to European countries, Paradise FM in partnership with Deutsche Welle, will hold a town hall discussion to examine the reasons behind the wave of illegal migration.
The event will be held on September 28, 2017, at the University of The Gambia, Faculty of Law Auditorium.
The organizers are of the belief that the event will assist in curbing the growing rate of young people embarking on this journey.
The discussions will take the form of a town-hall and will focus on the causes of illegal migration and its effects on the Gambia as well as a feasible solutions to the increasing problem.
Haruna Drammeh, CEO Paradise FM, said the recent deal sealed between Paradise FM and Deutsche Welle, is about migration dilemma. ” You realize that Gambia is one of the smallest countries in continental Africa, but also has significant number of its young people going through the desert and the high seas to try to go to Europe.”
Haruna noted that it is a concern to Gambians adding that they are very happy to signed the deal with Deutsche Welle, who are also concerned about the lives of the young people, most of whom don’t even make it to Europe.
He explains that the main objective of the Town Hall Discussion is to create exposure to bring the discussion to life.” To get it to the common places that everybody will be able to talk about it but also to exposed the dangers of what could happen to you, if you make the decision to go.”
Sometimes the grass is not even greener on the other side as people expected it to be said Haruna. “So there will be sharing of experiences and expertise by those who have gone and are back now.”
He added that those people will share their experiences during their journey and what happens there. “University of The Gambia was chosen to do the event because we found out that mostly it is young people at University going age who would be going on the journey.”
Haruna noted that the discussion will not end at the auditorium of the University of The Gambia. “We will make sure that it continues as a discussion and other platforms that we have, such as, Paradise FM, it will a continual discussion on it.”
He added that they will continue to sensitize the people who embarked on the journey, interview those who are already in Europe and those who haven’t made it. ” We know some people go as far as, Libya only to return back.”
Haruna: So once you bring all these people together and share their ambitions, dreams and failures as well, then it will be an on going discussion that young people can learn from.
Paradise FM CEO, call on Gambians to come to the Town Hall Discussion and share experiences and learn from others especially young people between the ages of 14-40.
Haruna: The Migration Dilemma has happen in other African countries but this is the first time DW is coming to Gambia adding that we will like their participation to be noticed and seen. ”
We can also challenge the international media about the role that they are playing when it comes to saving the lives of young people who choose to go on the dangerous journey.”
