Skip to main content
News - 
Global

South African Youths Visit Ethiopia to Better Understand Migration Dynamics

Addis Ababa – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in South Africa this week is supporting an educational visit for students to the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as part of the organization's efforts to increase awareness of migration as a key driver in the development agenda. This visit is a culmination of preparatory work dating back to the Mkhaya Migrant Award Essay Competition of 2016. 

The seven student winners of the essay competition – an initiative by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in response to the xenophobic attacks of 2015 – represent the country’s provincial universities. They are in Addis Ababa to gain an insight on the dynamics that inform policy decision making processes on the continent, with a special focus on migration governance.  

The students have visited the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Addis Ababa University’s Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) as well as IOM's Special Liaison Office in Ethiopia to gain insight on multilateralism." 

They are accompanied by officials from IOM, South Africa’s DHA and the Department of Social Development (DSD).   

Lily Sanya, IOM Chief of Mission in South Africa, who is accompanying the delegation said, “This is a strategic partnership that we hope will lay a foundation for youth engagement at the highest platform and also identify a possible youth ambassador to work with on future social cohesion programmes specifically as a tool towards realising an integrated continent guided by the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.” 

Maureen Achieng, IOM Chief of Mission in Ethiopia welcomed the South African delegation saying, “Despite the bleak backdrop against which this visit is taking place, it was planned months ago and I come out of it heartened by the genuine interest I sense on the part of the Government of South Africa and the youth from that country to understand better the continental migration dynamics, and how the vexed phenomenon that is migration could be better managed for the benefit of host countries and of the migrants themselves in South Africa.” 

“This visit will go a long way in empowering these young people to influence change and perceptions, drive programmes that support integration and strengthen communication at all levels within the country,” noted Peter Netshipale, Deputy Director General, Community Development in DSD.  

The DHA representative, Nolwandle Qaba, added, “This as an opportunity for the future leaders of South Africa to gain a better understanding of continental integration and its benefits and on their return home, they can channel their learnings to fellow youth and contribute to breaking stereotypes about other countries and nationalities.” 

This visit further complements IOM’s global efforts on youth and migration issues. Earlier this year the first International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) of 2019 took place in New York and it provided a global, diverse and inclusive platform for discussions to engage the youth with not only decision makers on migration, but also with other key actors in migration and related-areas, at all levels.  

For more information, please contact Ntokozo Mahlangu at IOM South Africa, Tel: +27 12 342 2789 (Ext. 246), Email: nmahlangu@iom.int 

Share this page via:

Regions
Office type
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Asia and the Pacific
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas (The)
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic (the)
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros (the)
Congo (the)
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic (the)
East and Horn of Africa
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Europe and Central Asia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia (the)
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Global Office in Brussels
Global Office in Washington
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
IOM Office at the United Nations
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Manila Administrative Centre
Marshall Islands (the)
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Middle East and North Africa
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger (the)
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Panama Administrative Centre
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines (the)
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova (the)
Romania
Russian Federation (the)
Rwanda
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Subregional Office in Brussels
Subregional Office in Pretoria
Sudan (the)
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic (the)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
United Republic of Tanzania (the)
UNSC Resolution 1244-Administered Kosovo
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Viet Nam
West and Central Africa
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe