Malta NGO reintegrates 25 migrants in countries of origin
David Darmanin The International Migration Office (IOM) in Malta has successfully repatriated 25 immigrants to their country of origin by means of a programme that is 75% funded by the EU.
The IOM scheme, dubbed ‘RESTART’, aims at supporting Maltese authorities to facilitate voluntary return and reintegration for migrants who would be in need of assistance in their country of origin.
The programme “contributes in addressing the issue of overstretched migration system in Malta,” the IOM said.
IOM Malta’s Project Manager Maria Pisani told MaltaToday that the “project originally targeted 25 individuals and to date, 25 have returned.”
Through RESTART, the IOM assists in return counselling for those who express an interest in returning home, the provision of “accurate and timely” information on the return and reintegration possibilities, and more importantly, the offer of support to migrants both while they are preparing to return as well as while reintegrating in society once they have reached home.
“On a practical level, IOM obtains travel documents from Embassies or Consulates abroad, organises the return transportation arrangements from Malta, at transit, to cities, villages or communities back ‘home’ in sub-Saharan Africa and the provision of financial reintegration assistance and monitoring,” Pisani added. “The sum result is a dignified and sustainable return home.”
Returnees who apply in Malta for the RESTART programme also receive financial reintegration assistance, in order to create a sustainable activity in their home country and reunite with their family.
The assistance IOM can provide depends upon what is available in the country of return, but broadly speaking, a sum of €2,400 is in place to assist return migrants in setting up a small business or to further their education.
The creation of small enterprises “is the most popular form of reintegration assistance chosen by returnees as they see it as the best way to make a living and enhance the possibility of a sustainable return.”
Returnees can choose to establish a new business, or invest in an existing one or go into partnership with friends and relatives. IOM can purchase equipment, tools and stock on their behalf, depending on the needs of the business such as farming, welding shop, sewing business and so forth.
IOM can also help returning adults and children to find a course to further their education. The reintegration fund can pay for tuition fees and associated costs such as equipment, uniforms or books.
The majority of the 25 that have returned “have already set up their micro-enterprise, while others are still in the process of doing so,” Pisani said. “Upon return, the IOM also offers its support on the feasibility of their business plans. For this reason, the process may sometimes take a few months.”
With over 450 offices in countries of origin and 6,690 staff worldwide, the IOM is one of the few international NGOs that is in a position to effectively co-ordinate between countries when it comes to return migration.
The returnees
‘Mr S’ comes from a small village in Senegal. He left his wife and two very young children in 1991, when he was 37, in search for work abroad in order to help his family overcome poverty. In the spring of 2009, Mr S expressed an interest in returning home under the RESTART programme. IOM Malta was able to obtain a travel document from the Embassy of Senegal in Rome and the flight arrangements were subsequently made. Mr S was assisted at departure in Malta, at transit in Tripoli and at arrival in Dakar and further to St Louis by the respective IOM representatives. Once reunited with his wife and children, Mr S decided to open a general store in his village. The feasibility of this sustainable micro-business project was discussed with IOM Dakar in close cooperation with IOM Malta. The reintegration assistance was invested in the rent of a shop and the purchase of consumable products for resale such as oil, sugar and rice.
At the age of 19, ‘Mr R’ decided to leave the poor suburbs of the seventh fastest overgrowing city in the world, Lagos in Nigeria, in search of a better future. The route that originates from Nigeria to Libya crosses Agadez in Niger. During his journey he lost two friends during the crossing of the Sahara desert and more friends drowned at sea. Mr R was subsequently rescued and brought to Malta. He found it difficult to integrate in Malta as work and housing were limited. One of his friends returned under the RESTART project earlier on in the year, and encouraged by his success, Mr R decided to reunite with his brother in Lagos and to set up a business with him. IOM Malta was able to obtain a travel document from the Embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli and purchased a flight ticket via Tripoli to Lagos. In collaboration with the IOM office in Lagos, Mr R discussed his plans to set up a carpentry activity. He decided to use the reintegration package to purchase the tools necessary to set up the business, and now specialises in wood work, house furnishing and carpentry finishing.
When ‘Mr Z’ decided to flee Ghana, he left behind his wife, three children and a parcel of land he had not found means to cultivate.
After having spent several years away from his family, he heard of the RESTART project and went to the IOM Office in Malta, where his return was organised in less than a month.
Mr Z wished to start a rubber plantation, so using his reintegration assistance he purchased the necessary agricultural products and tools he needed to work the land. ddarmanin@mediatoday.com.mt
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