Ekhlas Eisa came to the Netherlands as a refugee seven years ago, at the age of 37. She dearly wanted to do something for her country, so in 2007 she went to El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, for six months. She knew that a local NGO, the Community Development Association Darfur, needed people with knowledge and experience of setting up and supervising projects. Her university education and experience in education meant that she was able to help them. "My Sudanese background is also of crucial importance. This helps you to connect faster and introduce new ideas and methods more easily. You're actually a bridge-builder who works on developing ability."
Ekhlas Eisa assisted with the development of the project that provided
microcredits to women as a means to support their livelihood. "Many women
would like to work in agriculture. They have the land, but no money to buy
seeds or water the land. We have developed a project that focuses on the
production onions. Twenty women receive money to buy seeds and plants and to
irrigate and it was agreed that after selling the onions, they would pay the
loan back. In this way, we can keep offering women a chance."
Another project in which Ekhlas Eisa is involved is aimed at peacemaking.
This is a cause that she has been pursuing for quite some time via the
Sudanese community in the Netherlands. "When I was in Darfur, it struck me
that the young people there are so apathetic. They do nothing and just sit or
hang around and beg. Actually they have no future. I asked if they wanted to
do something for their community. They seemed willing, but they had no idea
what". The Community Development Association Darfur is looking for a way to
get young people involved in a positive way. This gave rise to the plan to
put together a football team made up of young people from both the Arabic and
non-Arabic communities. "These youths are each others' enemies and we hope to
start a dialogue in the football team amongst the young people by sharing
experiences and by becoming aware of the positive aspects of others". The
youngsters have reacted positively.
Ekhlas Eisa's knowledge of the language and culture also turned out to be
important here. The problem, however, was the 'unwilling and militant
village' which lay between both communities. "In order to play football
together the youngsters have to pass through it, which is risky. Nobody dares
to pass by there", says Ekhlas Eisa. Together with several colleagues she
approached the village elders approached and explained how important it is
that the youngsters meet each other and work towards peace. It subsequently
emerged during this conversation why the inhabitants of the village were so
angry and hostile. "They don't understand why they don't get any education,
hospitals or other forms of help from the government and help organisations.
We responded to this by saying that nobody dares go there".
The meetings have had a positive effect. The Community Development
Association Darfur promised to refurbish the school and to find a teacher
while the village promised to let the youngsters pass by safely.
Before the school was refurbished, Osman Ekhlas Eisa was involved with the
African Women's organisation in Gouda, where she now lives. "They have
introduced the project to Oxfam Novib, the local authority and various
trusts, and have received money. The school has now been built, there is a
teacher, and the village children are being educated again."
Ekhlas Eisa will leave again in the near future. She can work for another two
months in Darfur as part of the TRQN scheme and will stay around for a few
months. The T-shirts for the footballers are also ready. "I know that the
Community Development Association Darfur has carried on with the football
team. It is really important that the youngsters become a part of the
peace-building process and that is where I can make a contribution".
IOM: Migration and development
These temporary missions offer qualified migrants the chance to make a contribution in their countries of origin to the development of the capabilities of local organisations. The project proposal has been developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Development Cooperation, and IOM plays a mediating role that involves bringing the demand and supply together. The period of employment varies from several weeks to several months. With these projects, IOM is seeking to make a constructive contribution to policy and the discussion about Migration and Development, by demonstrating the added value arising from the involvement of migrants, amongst other things. At the same time, IOM wants to contribute to a more positive image of migration and migrants in the Netherlands.
IOM is currently carrying out the following projects within the context of Migration and Development:
- MIDA Ghana Health. This project aims to strengthen the health service in Ghana through the commitment of Ghanaian doctors and other health workers who are resident in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany and other EU countries. In addition to this, limited opportunities will be created for health service personnel from Ghana to undertake a short placement or course of training in the Netherlands. The project is carried out in close collaboration with the Ghanaian Ministry for Healthcare and is supported by the Dutch embassy in Ghana.
- Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals (TRQN). The 'Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals' (TRQN) project enables migrants to carry out temporary work for which there is a lack of local expertise in their country of origin . The project is meant to facilitate the reconstruction and development of a number of former conflict areas through the application of expertise and experience of migrants who are staying in the Netherlands. TRQN is focusing on Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
- The Return and Reintegration of Qualified Sudanese (RQS) is a project coordinated by IOM in Sudan for the purpose of rebuilding the south of Sudan. Short missions as well as more long-term missions are carried out to this end.
- The Diaspora for Development of Cape Verde began in January and involves the deployment of Cape Verdean migrants from the Netherlands, Portugal and Italy in order to aid the development of Cape Verde.
IOM Migration Info 2008, no. 1
Theme: About IOM
