AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HIGH YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND INCREASED MIGRATION TO THE GULF REGION: THE EXPERIENCES OF KENYAN WORKERS

. This study sought to investigate the connection between youth unemployment in Kenya and increased migration to the Gulf region. Specifically, it examined the motivations for migration, the role of economic independence and socio-economic aspirations in migration decisions, how migrants seek information to help them decide whether to travel, and the lived experiences of Kenyan migrant workers in the Gulf and how they respond to them. The study used the qualitative research approach and semi-structured interviews to explore, frame, and analyse the subject. Data were collected from 12 respondents using face-to-face and online interviews and focus group discussions. The respondents were chosen through snowball sampling after meeting the criteria for participation. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, where multiple themes and subthemes emerged, including single motherhood stress, racism and discrimination, shattered dreams, and media bias in framing migrant experiences in the Gulf. Furthermore, the study established, against popular anti-Gulf narratives in the media, that the experiences of migrant workers in the region were no different from those in other regions. Most importantly, it determined that the motivation of Kenyan youth to migrate to the Gulf region is driven by a complex set of factors, including poverty, social exclusion, the search for better opportunities, and the desire to escape gender-based discrimination and domestic abuse. While negative experiences such as racism, religious intolerance, overworking, sexual abuse, and verbal abuse were reported, it was determined that they were no worse than in Kenya and other regions. This finding is critical to dispelling harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about migration to the Gulf. It revealed that the media often portrays a biased, inaccurate, and incomplete picture of the migrant experience in the Gulf, which perpetuates harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. The study recommends creating community programs, online support groups, therapy, and counselling to help returnees, mostly single mothers, cope. Secondly, it proposes active initiatives by the Kenyan government to make migration safer to ensure that migrants are protected from abuse and exploitation. Thirdly, it advocates for policies to make Kenya safer for women to live and raise their children. Lastly, it calls out the media to adopt a more nuanced approach to reporting migrant experiences in the Gulf. The study overcame limitations such as financial constraints, limited time, gatekeepers who were unwilling to assist, and the stigmatisation of rape and other sexual offences that made some participants reluctant to share their experiences, to deliver a document that could impact policy and save lives

The Life History Characteristics, Growth, and Mortality of Juvenile Alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus, in Coastal Massachusetts

Over the past two centuries, anadromous alewife populations have drastically declined due to damming, inadequate fish passage, overfishing in the ocean and freshwater, climate change, and reduction in habitat quality. Alewife populations are currently assessed by counting adult fish as they migrate upstream, but little is known about resulting juvenile production within lakes. Lack of knowledge of freshwater life history characteristics of juvenile alewife limits our understanding of overall productivity. For this thesis, I fill existing information gaps by (1) characterizing the timing of adult alewife migrations and subsequent spawning (Chapter 2), and (2) assessing juvenile alewife density, size, growth, and mortality within lakes, and abiotic factors influencing these estimates across lakes (Chapter 3). Twenty lakes across coastal Massachusetts were sampled for juvenile alewife and water quality in summer 2014. Each lake was sampled three times: Round 1 (29 May to 15 June), Round 2 (26 June to 16 July), and Round 3 (27 July to 15 August). Analyses of instream adult counts and otolith-based estimates of spawning date from captured juveniles showed a distinct delay (7-28 d) between the beginning of the adult migration run and spawning, and spawning continued 13-48 days after adults stopped migrating. These findings further corroborate recent discoveries that suggest alewife exhibit asynchronous spawning and has large implications for freshwater foodwebs. Lakes, overall, did not produce the same sized fish and there appears to be substantial variations of length-at-age with some lakes exhibiting large differences. No change in length-at-age occurred in August, thus differences were achieved earlier in the growing season. Additionally, all 20 lakes exhibited variable growth, density, and mortality rates that yielded generally weak relationships with abiotic and biotic factors. Juvenile alewife density was positively related to juvenile density in the previous sampling Round, suggesting that a single sampling date may be sufficient to estimate relative lake density across the landscape. Factors affecting growth were not consistent; overall growth was positively correlated with DOC, while the last 20 days of growth was negatively correlated with secchi depth. While different, these responses are likely the result of the same mechanisms, both intrinsically linked with zooplankton abundance, prey availability, and feeding behavior within lakes. No significant correlate was found for mortality. In the future, the data in this thesis can be incorporated into models to improve stock assessments and support timely adaptive management strategies

A Gendered Perspective On Migrant Women Farmers’ Lived Experiences In The Brong-Ahafo Region Of Ghana

This thesis examined the lived experiences of migrant women in rural areas of the Brong-Ahafo Region (BAR) of Ghana. Notwithstanding the depth of research on internal migrations in Ghana, little is known about women who have migrated from the Upper West Region to rural settlements in BAR to farm. Using 30 in-depth interviews, 5 focus group discussions and 10 key informant interviews, the study investigated migrant women’s productive and reproductive challenges, how they navigate these limitations, and the current state of livelihood improvement interventions. The findings revealed that migrant women’s livelihoods may not have improved as they had expected pre-migration, due to structural and cultural barriers which inhibit their effective utilisation of economic, health and social resources. Given their overwhelming constraints, migrant women tend to work more as there are few interventions to support them

Choosing Home: International Pushes and Pulls for Malaysian Alumni of U.S. Graduate Programs

Malaysians’ journeys to pursue graduate education in the U.S. generate more than just degree attainment. This dissertation looks at how experiences in the U.S., both in graduate school and in the workplace, influenced highly educated Malaysians, especially in their exploration of push and pull factors that influence their decisions to remain in the U.S. or to return to Malaysia. This study focuses on twenty-two participants comprised of those who have returned to Malaysia, those who are working in the U.S. on non-immigrant visas, those who became Permanent Residents and those who are naturalized U.S. citizens. The first major finding demonstrates that decisional turning points emerged mainly based upon national policies and employment opportunities prompted by the high demand for talented human capital. Such turning points are crucial telling moments of when individuals make decisions. The second major finding is that push and pull factors -- which include economic conditions and opportunities, quality of life, social justice and freedom perspectives, as well as social network/ social capital -- are assessed through the comparative views acquired between living in Malaysia and in the U.S. The third major finding is that the challenges and experiences participants encountered in the U.S. prompted the formation of transnationalism, wherein their identities, behaviors and values are not limited by the location in which they live. They use a dual frame of reference to evaluate their experiences in the U.S. and the continuous relationships with their family and communities in Malaysia. Understanding the notion of transnationalism in the process of individuals’ decision making could help states develop policies that promote brain circulation. Policies that support this global mobility of the highly educated and skilled workforce would not just benefit those nations that send and receive students for higher education enrollment. Because 1) the knowledge economy demands the global flow of highly educated workers and 2) people who study transnationally develop a flexible sense of identity and location, policies that enable international mobility for brain circulation are significant for all nations

Europe, Space of Freedom and Security. Migration and mobility: Assets and challenges for the enlargement of the European Union

The ‘Jean Monnet’ European Centre of Excellence (C03/0110) and the School of High Comparative European Studies (SISEC), both from the West University of Timisoara, propose to launch the scientific debate on the migration and mobility within the Romanian universities, the academic life and among the policies and decision makers from Romania. The International Colloquium Migration and Mobility: Assets and Challenges for the Enlargement of the European Union proposed for 4-5 of May 2006 is part of the SISEC bi-annual project "EUROPE: SPACE OF FREEDOM AND SECURITY", dedicated to study of European Affairs, with focus on migration and mobility, in the framework of the European Year of Workers’ Mobility 2006. The participants were both renowned experts on migration and mobility, and PhD students interested in the challenging subjects proposed.migration EU acquis illegal migration irregula immigrants labour migration right to work EU enlargement cost and benefit analysis remittances development development networks circular migration Diasporas

The transnational migration strategies of Chinese and Indian students in Australia.

Migration is increasingly transient, particularly among the highly skilled. In addition, countries engaged in a race for highly skilled labour are prepared to modify immigration regulations to attract those migrants. Australian immigration policy reflects how Australia sees international students as highly skilled migrants. Despite abundant research regarding the mobility of the highly skilled, there is a relative lack of investigation into the mobility of international students and their subsequent migration patterns. This thesis explores the nexus between immigration policy and international education by investigating the determinants of the mobility of Chinese and Indian students in Australia. Chinese and Indian students enrolled in the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia were surveyed and key informants were interviewed to uncover the underlying factors that motivated the students in going abroad to study and their future intentions when they graduate. It was found that while decisions were based on myriad factors, Chinese and Indian students were motivated differently. Findings revealed Permanent Residency in Australia as a key objective for many; with Indian students more driven than their Chinese counterparts in seeking this outcome. Skilled migration programmes designed to encourage the permanent settlement of international students influenced the deliberate selection of Australia and Adelaide as study destinations; however, questions of permanency were raised as Chinese and Indian students, particularly the latter, exhibited post study migration intentions to either interstate and/or third country destinations. The limited effectiveness of policy was highlighted as Australia's skilled migration programme was circumvented through the use of Australia and/or Adelaide as gateways to preferred destinations. In other words, as much as policy can influence the decision of students when deciding on study destinations, students also subvert policy by configuring particular study destinations as gateways en route to a preferred destination. The implications for policy and its role in shaping the migration strategies of the students are thus investigated. International student mobility is conceptualised in this thesis as linkages to permanent settlement and onward migration highlight the inadequate and limited scope of traditional forms of migration research in explaining student migration.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2012

How Does Climate Change Play a Role in Migration Decisions? The Case of Bangladesh

Master Programme in Social Science: Climate Change, Politics and Culture - Nord universite