The launch of the Destination Unknown campaign also marked the start of a learning process. This became clear at the second meeting of all participating organizations. They all agreed: only together can something be achieved and young people need to be more involved.
Sylvia Valentin, responsible for development policy campaigns
In March, the members of Destination Unknown met in person for the second time since the campaign was launched in 2011. The campaign to protect young migrants is led by the International Federation Terre des Hommes. At the three-day meeting, around 40 participants from all over the world shared their experiences. They came from very different backgrounds. Participants included Najat Maalla Mjid, former UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, the Campaign Coordinator for Southeast Asia and a young person from Liberia who is being cared for by Terre des hommes as an unaccompanied minor asylum seeker in Morocco.
Unity in diversity
As diverse as the participants were, they all agreed on one thing: migration poses many challenges that require different solutions. During the lively discussions, presentations and workshops, the term “children and young people in the context of migration” was increasingly used instead of “children on the move”. This (somewhat clumsy) term also includes, for example, those children and young people who are left behind alone because their parents have migrated in search of a livelihood.
Migration will not simply stop – networked solutions must be found
The participants also made it clear that migration is a global phenomenon that will not simply stop. The development of increasing mobility cannot be stopped by putting up walls and closing borders. Networked solutions are needed. This was not only emphasized by the representatives of small organizations from the Mediterranean countries of Greece, Malta and Cyprus. For larger organizations such as Terre des hommes Germany and the Netherlands, it is also clear that we are all small players on the global stage. But united in the Destination Unknown campaign, we achieve a respectable influence.
Easier to turn to your peers
A highlight of the meeting was the participation of young people from Africa, Asia and Europe. The young people emphasized the importance of exchanging ideas and working together. It is also easier for young people to turn to their peers in difficult situations. Adults often have no idea what is really going on. The young people, some of whom already have a wealth of experience in project work themselves, were the best proof that working with them as a target group is the right choice.
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Video of the Destination Unknown meeting:
