Happy new week, everyone! I hope you're all gearing up for this week's tasks. Today, I want to share my friends experience with migration, inspired by a contest organized by @marivic.
I chose this topic because I witnessed a real-life encounter that deeply affected me. A friend of mine left the country seeking better opportunities, but to this day, no one has been able to reach her.
Source
I once had a colleague in school who was a brilliant student. After graduation, she searched for jobs but couldn’t find one that offered a fair salary. Many positions offered low pay with high demands. If you teach in one of the local schools in Nigeria, you’ll understand what I mean.
She was paid NGN30,000, which was barely enough to get by. She had to wake up as early as 5:30 am to make it to school by 7:30 am, otherwise, her salary would be deducted for being late.
The last time we spoke, she complained about headaches and job stress. She moved to another school hoping for better conditions, but nothing improved.
Then she found an opportunity to travel through the desert. I remember warning her many times not to go, but she insisted because she knew someone who was doing well in Europe. Traveling by air required costly documents, and she couldn’t afford it. The embassy would grant permission for studies, but she planned to do menial jobs and earn euros on getting there.
As time went on, I lost contact with her. When I called her phone, it wouldn’t connect. Currently, her family is searching for her.
Last year, her mother called me, asking if I knew anything about her whereabouts. I told her the last time I saw her daughter was when she mentioned the opportunity to travel to Europe. I had advised her not to undertake such an uncertain journey.
My advice to readers is this: if you plan to migrate, ensure it's done legally. Avoid putting yourself through the stress of traveling through deserts and seas, and living as an illegal migrant in a foreign land.
What causes this is a lack of opportunities. You can still stay in your home country, learn a valuable skill that can generate income, and be patient and dedicated to it. However, if you have someone abroad who can support you, then it might be worth considering.
To this day, I can't find my friend, and her mother cries bitterly whenever she thinks about it.
Wishing everyone a happy new week! Thanks for reading.