‘I had a comfortable life growing up in Gambia. We were by no means rich, but my parents made sure we were educated and cared for. I speak seven languages and got along easily with people from different ethnic groups. I had no plans to leave; I wanted to launch a business.’
Findings
Scaling Fences draws on an extensive survey involving interviews of 1,970 migrants from 39 African countries who had travelled through irregular means to Europe, not (in their own words) for protection-related reasons. The interviews took place across 13 European host countries.
This is the largest such survey ever conducted, in size and scope, exploring both the circumstances of irregular migrants at home before travelling and their experiences once in Europe.
24 is the
average age
at time of travel to europe
85%
come from
urban
environments almost
twice the african average
Respondents
come from an
average
household
size of 10
twice the african average
57%
had at least secondary
education
before departure
3 to 5 years more schooling
than peers at home
77% felt their
voice was
unheard
by government
84% had low levels of confidence
in national institutions
Ireggular
migration can be
a family
investment
53% received financial support
for the cost of the journey from
family or friends
1/2 of respondents
left despite
having
a job
for 66% earning, or the
prospect of earning at home,
was not a constraining factor
in the decision to leave
but 81% cited ‘work/send money
home’ as a reason for migrating
93% experienced danger during the journey
Only 2% said previous knowledge of this would have prevented them from travelling
41% said nothing would have changed their mind
38%
of respondents are
earning
in Europe
of those 38% do so without
a legal right to work
78% of those
earning in Europe
send money
home
remittances represent over 90%
of real income at home for those
who were working
Women
earned
26% less than men in Africa
but 11% more when in Europe
77% feel
positive
about their future in europe
despite deprivation and loneliness
11% are
homeless
42% had foregone food
77% had gone without income
More of those earning,
sending money home,
and with a legal right
to work
are willing
to leave
Europe
A development
deficit in Africa
motivates
people to
migrate
It also prevents them from returning
35% cited conditions at home as
barriers to their return.