On International Migrants Day, AspirE, DYNAMIG and PACES – three EU-funded projects on migration decision-making – want to honor and reflect on the voices of migrants in migration and policy research. In this three-part interview series, we focus on how (aspiring) migrants experienced their participation in our research. Through their reflections, we aim to shed light on the human side of academic studies, exploring what it means to share one’s story.
Part 1: Interview with Abel
In this interview, we speak with Abel*, a recent participant in the PACES project, led by the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam. He shares how the research has shaped his perspective, offers insights into migration dynamics in his community, and reflects on his hope for future migration policies.
Q: What was your motivation to participate in the project?
Abel: Migration is a difficult thing in which people have fifty-fifty chances of success or failure. Every day, I see many girls from rural areas waiting for weeks to get a passport. I wish these problems will be resolved with studies and investigations.
Q: What has been your experience taking part in this research?
Abel: The experience has given me the advantage of looking at my town and my personal life. Most migrants say working in Ethiopia has no lasting benefit on their lives. But if we work three years abroad, it will help us to establish our own business and life.
I really liked [being interviewed] because the [researcher] asked about the community [where I live] and how the city has transformed. I never thought about the changes taking place in my town before. Now I work on [two jobs] and save money in ‘Ekub’ (a traditional Ethiopian savings group where members contribute and take turns receiving pooled funds).
'I might consider migrating to earn the money I need to start a business.'
Abel, PACES participant
Q: How do you see the trends of migration in your city and what has changed since you were last interviewed?
Abel: The number of people waiting for a passport has increased. The cost of getting a passport rose from 2,000 birr to 5,000 birr, but it didn’t discourage people not to apply for one. [People are determined to go to Gulf countries] because, here in Ethiopia, they may earn 2,000 birr, but abroad, they could earn up to 40,000 birr per month.
Many young people are attracted to migration because of the decrease in birr’s value, which makes earning abroad very tempting. I started discussing migration a lot with friends and relatives at home. Whenever I hear about migration, I want to get involved and share my views. I’m very motivated to work for myself rather than being hired here and there. I have the determination and commitment to start my own business, but financial problems and my past experiences with small businesses hold me back.
Q: How did the process of being part of this project influence your personal migration story?
Abel: I don’t have any plans to leave my country right now. No one can take care of my children. My wife is pregnant. I’m the one who provides everything. I have to take my first child to school. Maybe when my children can help themselves and if their mother gets a good job, I might consider migrating to earn the money I need to start a business.
‘The people who are directly affected by migration must be part of the research...’
Abel, PACES participant
Q: How do you feel this type of research should be conducted?
Abel: I think the research should include various community members and well-known people such as religious and traditional leaders. They know about the town and its people.
The people who are directly affected by migration must be part of the research in the future. In addition, [research] needs to focus on women from rural areas. The rural people and women are just flowing to Gulf countries. They come to the city without enough information and don’t know about the [migration] process. They are usually abused and looted even before leaving Ethiopia.
Most people who want to go abroad come from villages far away. Their families want their children to change their lives by working abroad. If problems need to be solved for real, the basic cause of migration from rural areas must be known.
Q: What sorts of outcomes do you expect to come from this type of research?
Abel: This research can help our government understand the needs of the community and why people choose to migrate. It can also inform citizens about the risks of migration - both within cities and abroad - so they can plan their journeys more safely and effectively.
This kind of research can help our government know more about people’s intentions on migration and they can use the information to inform its citizens about migration and their dreams in life.
*The interviewee’s real name has been modified, and any identifying or location markers were removed, altered or generalized to protect their privacy. Ethics procedures were followed throughout the interview series, with guidance and/or approval from the interviewees and guidance and/or approval from the project managers, researchers, independent ethics advisors and data protection officers of the three projects. The interview was edited for length and clarity, while preserving as much of the original phrasing as possible.
- More information
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
- Related links
- More on the PACES project
