Cumilla, Bangladesh: Our research has shown us that the decisions of potential migrants are significantly impacted by their peer group. Within this context we have officially appointed 30 Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) Ambassadors in Bangladesh. These young people have been chosen as youth leaders for their energy and dedication, and were hand-picked by our MRCs following several orientation sessions that they carried out in colleges and universities across Bangladesh.
These Campus Ambassadors will assist MRCs in conducting awareness raising on safe and regular migration in different schools, help prepare information materials that are responsive to the interests and needs of young Bangladeshis, and promote MRC activities among their friends and peers.
“We want to show our community that despite being young, we can spread correct information through art, performances, dance and songs that attract the attention of our fellow students,” said one of the new MRC Ambassadors.
Another participant added that “we have to be role models: we should be diligent and on time with our studies and extra-curricular activities so that we apply can apply this in our future work”.
The Campus Ambassadors have developed a 6-month plan on how to support MRCs in awareness raising within their campuses and among their friends and networks. Some have already participated in Facebook Live sessions discussing the topic “The role of youth in national development and safe migration” while the Campus Ambassadors from Cumilla University have displayed and distributed stickers and posters on migration prepared by the MRCs on their campus.
This activity is part of the outreach of the MRCs in Bangladesh, which are implemented by International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and funded by the European Union and Switzerland.
