Youth Migration: A Step from Haven

World Bank (2000) findings predicted that in 2020, urban cities in developing countries will host a majority of its population as the people (mostly youth) flee from rural areas. According to the United Nations, eighth of the total number of migrants worldwide are made up by young people. Several reasons of the youth migration are fleeing abusive families, discrimination, war, and mostly because of the lack of opportunities in their homeland. These reasons are the turning point of youth migration: they migrate to seek a better life, such as high educational, financial, social, and cultural opportunities.

There are positive and negative impacts of youth migration. Youth migrants may experience language barriers and difficulties in adapting to the new country’s culture. It is the result of the lacking information about the regions or countries they are going to. Media tells us well how this lacking can cause them to be easily abused and exploited. This experience will lead them into frustration and psychological problems. Thus, it is one of the causes we hear a lot of suicide or homicide issues happen in migrants.

However, as they move, they diffuse their cultural traits and ideas along with them. They can adjust their cultural background along with the culture in their new host-land. They can make a new understanding accross culture, they fight the cultural barriers, and they can make their dream to become true. As they can fight the barriers and their own weaknesses, I absolutely believe that they can get a higher education and higher standart of living.

In most cases of youth migrants, they experience positive and negative impacts simultaneously. “I can’t say I’m one thing or the other. I’m a Moroccan Berber who was born in the Netherlands, with Deutch citizenship. I’m both, and that enriches me and troubles me too, all at the same time”, said young woman with Moroccan parents in the Netherlands as quoted in UNFPA report.

I strongly suggest the migrants to live in the host-land temporarily, not permanently. This suggestion is based on my belief that youth are the agent of change. They have a power to change the situation in their homeland. As they get the advantages from their migration, they can empower the other youth in their homeland to make a better life also. Through the innovation such as social and cultural enterpreneurship, they will reduce overpopulation and competition in urban cities and develop the engagement of activities in their homeland.

Tulisan ini lolos 13th Melaka International Youth Dialogue 2013.