Journeying Back to Hope

Rabat, Morocco – Redouane, 37, reached a point where he felt he had no choice but to leave Morocco. Stuck in a dead-end job as an administrator and struggling to support his mother’s deteriorating health, he found himself unable to make ends meet.

“I worked in an administration office in Tamelalt for five years, doing my best to cover my sick mother’s medical needs,” he explained. Despite his efforts, the lack of professional advancement and his mother’s illness weighed heavily on him, and he began to consider migration as a way to improve his circumstances. When his mother passed away, it was the final blow, plunging him into despair and solidifying his decision to leave.

Determined to migrate to Europe, Redouane initially planned to cross the sea but decided against it, fearing the dangers. Instead, he opted for a route via Türkiye. Accompanied by a few friends, he flew to Istanbul and made his way to the Turkish-Bulgarian border near Edirne.

Unfortunately, the journey was fraught with challenges. “I crossed the Turkish-Bulgarian border twice but was stopped and sent back both times. The third time, I tried heading to the Serbian border, but I was stopped there as well,” he recounted. During these arduous attempts, Redouane lost his identification papers and his sense of hope. “Each time they sent me back to Türkiye, I became more desperate,” he said.

The repeated setbacks took a toll on both his morale and physical health. “We walked at night to avoid getting arrested and rested during the day. We just wanted to reach Sofia in Bulgaria, but it was impossible,” he recalled, describing ten grueling days navigating forests, enduring cold temperatures, and battling hunger.

In the midst of his despair, Redouane learned about the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme. He realized that irregular migration was not improving his situation but endangering his life. “After three attempts, I decided to return to Morocco,” he shared.

In 2023, 761 Moroccans voluntarily returned to their home country, mostly from Türkiye, with IOM’s support, 70 per cent of whom were men. Türkiye was the primary country where they requested assistance from.

“Assistance to Moroccan returnees is guided by IOM’s integrated approach to reintegration, developed in 2017,” said Ibtihaje Essemlali, Reintegration Focal Point at IOM Morocco. “This approach aims to address beneficiaries’ economic, social, and psychosocial needs while considering the community contexts to which they return,” she added.

Despite his harrowing migratory journey, Redouane returned to Morocco in March 2024, hopeful for a fresh start. Settling back in Rabat at his father’s house, where his brothers also live, Redouane began to plan for a brighter future.

"Living in Rabat, I saw the growing demand for delivery services in e-commerce and food sectors. I decided to start a delivery agency here," he explained. His timing was perfect – online shopping and e-commerce had surged in Morocco since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in urban centres like Rabat, creating high demand for delivery services.

During a reintegration assistance follow-up by IOM staff, Redouane discussed his idea. Seeing its potential, IOM provided guidance and enrolled him in training on entrepreneurship, commercialization, and marketing. These sessions were tailored to Redouane’s needs, focusing on cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, project management, and marketing techniques. The training also emphasized psychosocial support and personal development, helping participants transform their migratory experiences into valuable entrepreneurial skills.

With IOM’s support and the knowledge gained from his training, Redouane looks ahead with renewed optimism.

“I hope, with IOM's help, to put the past behind me and start fresh,” he said with determination. He firmly believes in perseverance and the power of hope. “Every problem has a solution. If I’d had opportunities here, I’d never have considered leaving. Now that I’ve experienced the risks of irregular migration, I’m focused on launching my delivery project and building a small family.”

The training Redouane received was delivered under the framework of the Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS) programme, a strategic partnership between IOM and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For more information on the COMPASS programme, visit www.iom.int/compass.