In the MaM peer-to-peer approach, returned migrants play a central role as Volunteers in the development, planning, and implementation and evaluation of the project. Thus, it is important to build a dynamic Volunteer network.
Step by step on how to implement this pillar:
-
Conduct a country wide mapping to identify key intervention areas (e.g. high migration areas). These will be the areas where Volunteers will be recruited. It is important to find synergies with other programs working in the areas of protection, assistance, and reintegration of return migrants, youth capacity building, and awareness raising.
-
Create a Volunteer recruitment plan. Criteria and skills are important, but motivation is even more - so remember to be flexible!
-
Think about the skills required for a Volunteer :
-
Passionate about advocacy around migration-related issues.
-
Good communication skills.
-
Active on social media.
-
Fluent in English or French.
-
Knows how to use a computer.
-
Can create creative content.
-
Experience in civic engagement, live arts (theatre, music, dance), and so on.
-
Other Volunteer criteria to keep in mind:
-
Volunteers should be returned migrants.
-
Being an IOM beneficiary is not a condition but recommended that at least half of MaM Volunteers have participated in IOM voluntary return and reintegration programmes.
-
Think about languages: English and French speakers can help with translation and subtitling of interviews and support video editing, while knowledge of local languages can strengthen awareness-raising activities on-the-ground
-
Ensure there is a good balance of men and women in the network.
-
Partners :
-
Think about how leaders or civil society organizations can support facilitation and/or management of the Volunteer network, and how they can share new skills with the Volunteers.
-
Conduct interviews with potential Volunteers. To ensure transparency and gender balance, make sure there is at least one man and one woman on the interview panel.
-
Hold information sessions for recruited Volunteers so they understand:
-
About the project.
-
The meaning of a participatory approach and peer-to-peer communication.
-
The role of a MaM Volunteer.
-
Compensation for MaM Volunteers.
-
Training opportunities within the project.
-
Types of activities will be conducted in the project.
-
Manage the Volunteer network in a fair and transparent way. Once Volunteers have been recruited, it is time to manage the network. Plan monthly meetings with the network to discuss how Volunteers can participate in different activities (such as content production, trainings, community engagement activities, and so on.) To ensure equal participation in activities, discuss with the Volunteers as a group to determine what is a fair system to select which Volunteers will participate in which activities.
Tip for future implementation:
-
Develop a “Volunteer” job description based on the criteria identified and disseminate it to youth, women and returnee associations, colleagues, civil society organizations and other partners.
-
If it is difficult to build a network of returnee migrants only, consider expanding the criteria to include others who can support the network - such as members of youth associations.
-
Involve colleagues from other projects in the recruitment process.
-
Ask existing Volunteers to be part of the recruitment process – such as participating in the design of the recruitment strategy, being part of the interviews or asking them for their recommendations for other Volunteers.
-
Consider recruiting Volunteers as consultants (with determined number of hours/month) or having compensation of Volunteers be managed by a partner.
“When I compare my life before joining the MaM Project to now, I can boldly say that the project has transformed me positively. It has given me a new perception about migration and life in general. I now see myself as a man on a mission to save lives.” Liyon, MaM Volunteer, Liberia