The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication -MAJaC and The Gambia Media Support -GAMES today Launch ‘Unlock Potentials to Combat Irregular Migration (UPCIM)’ project. 

Sang Mendy, MAJaC Managing Director and UPCIM Project Manager, said the project seeks to address the root causes of irregular migration- unemployment, underemployment and hopelessness. It aims to help Gambian youth acquire media-related skills for employment and employment creation to combat irregular migration.

“… MAJaC will in this project work with a group of CSOs through a coalition representing youth, migrant returnees, women, families, and more to developing adequate responses to combat irregular migration,” he said. “To do that MAJaC will build the capacity of 16 CSO staff with solid theoretical and practical communication and advocacy skills to conduct massive, proactive and innovative anti-irregular migration sensitisation.”

Marianne Frederiksen, GAMES Project Manager, delved into MAJaC-GAMES partnership which now surpassed two decades.

“The ambition is high, but after being partnering with MAJaC and the Gambian press Union for many years, we know that the organisations here is able to create the results,” she stated.

Frederiksen is hopeful that the project would be able to make a little change in the life of some young migrants and build the capacity of MAJAC to be even more successful as a relevant training academy.

Modou S. Joof, Secretary General, Gambia Press Union (GPU), said the Gambia Press Union (GPU) is pleased to be associated with this project, implemented by the Media Academy for Journalist and Communication and the Denmark-based Gambia Media Support (GAMES) to 'Unlock Potentials to Combat Irregular Migration (UPCIM)'.

“This is an important project meant to address the challenges of migration that the Gambia is faced with, especially issues of irregular migration,” he said. “It is in line with the GPU’s efforts of building the capacity of media workers to effectively tackle the problems associated with irregular migration and the root causes by raising awareness on the subject.”

Forty-eight (48) Gambian youths would receive an intensive nine-month training in Film & Photography, Communication and Digital Media Production & Management. This will equip them with the necessary skills to start-up their own business or grab gainful employment.

For a successful implementation of this project, on top of its flagship journalism programme, the academy would develop a curriculum in Film & Photography, Communication and Digital Media Production & Management.

MAJaC will host and coordinate a CSO Coalition to help raise awareness on opportunities often overlooked in The Gambia.