The Gambia - Absa

Absa
La Gambie
Absa describes herself as a hardworking, friendly and jovial young lady. She is a very sociable person. When she's not working, she spends time listening to music.
Absa traveled to Nigeria in 2012 and, in late 2014, continued to Libya via Niger. After three years in Tripoli, she returned to The Gambia in 2017. She has been doing business and studying to be a professional cook at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute (GTHI). She has done numerous awareness raising campaigns with IOM across the country. She wants to join forces with her fellow retunees to sensitize other young people and potential migrants on alternatives to irregular migration.

Returned migrants play a central role as Volunteers in the development, planning and implementation of the Migrants as Messengers campaign.

Through their stories, the learnings from their migratory experiences and their creativity, MaM Volunteers are the principal authors and actors of the campaign. From 2019-2022, a community of more than 300 volunteers across 7 countries will develop and grow. This community will also have access to diversified training and capacity-building opportunities and be invited to regular activities to support the development of an organic and sustainable community. Female engagement plays an important role within the MaM Volunteer community as they will take the lead in shaping women-to-women dialogue sessions and engaging female audiences more generally.