Every year, nearly 0.5%
of Gambians migrate to other countries, the highest rate in Africa. In the last
five years, Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Nigeria, Sweden,
Germany and Sweden have been the top countries of destination for Gambian
youths. Many of them reach these countries through illegal movement with the
hope of having better life and help dependants back home.
Despite leaving the
country without adequate skills and knowledge, Gambian migrants adapt with
their host countries within short period and learn employable skills. This has
earned them the ‘World
Most Skilled Migrants’. As some of the host destinations are planning to
return the migrants, returning
them to The Gambia would lead to political, social and economic costs. These
would be severe on dependants at home. However, it appears that promoter of What’s On
Gambia, a social community on Facebook that scoops information on Gambians,
is not happy with the kinds of job Gambians are doing in their host countries.
Infoprations’
analysis shows that What’s On Gambia’s post on job status of many Gambians in
United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Sweden, France, Italy and Switzerland
is laced with annoyance. Analysis
suggests that promoter of the platform sees Gambians being Security Guards,
Care Workers, Benefit Scroungers, Sales Assistants, Garbage Collectors in
United Kingdom as loss. For Gambians in Germany working as Garbage Collectors,
Cleaners, Construction Labourers, Part-Time Dealers, Infoprations found that What’s
On Gambia was constructive, indicating emotionless and analytical attitude
about the jobs.
Despite starting its
message with the irritated tone, What’s On
Gambia appreciates hardworking Gambians and believes that they would overcome
challenges. As at the time of writing
this analysis, the post has generated over 500 comments from Gambians at home
and abroad. Most of the commenters appreciate their fellow Gambians doing the
jobs and attack What’s On Gambia for
discrediting the hardworking Gambians in Diaspora.
Analysis of 57 comments
indicates that Gambians, especially dependants at home are not embarrassed
that their brothers and sisters are doing the jobs. According to them, many
migrants are the supporters of Gambians leaving in the country. They believe
that despite numerous challenges migrants are facing every day they (migrants)
would survive. “There is nothing wrong in doing these jobs. They work hard to
support their families back home. I am really proud of my husband and would
never stop him from sending money to his family,” one of the commenters noted.
One of the commenters,
however, chided Gambians at home, saying they only drink Attaya (a local tea) and expect their “Caregiver” and “Taxi Driver”
brothers to send money to them. According to the commenter, “It is ironical”.
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