An IOM film aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of irregular
migration among Egyptian minors hoping to get to Italy and to
propose alternatives will be shown on 30 May in Cairo as part of
efforts to promote regular migration from Egypt.

The irregular migration of unaccompanied minors from Egypt to
Italy has reached worrying levels in recent years and is emerging
as a new social phenomenon.

The film, "The Road to Atalia", will be premiered
before an audience of 100 people from public and private sectors,
as well as international organizations, government ministers and
the diplomatic community.

Focusing on the story of an Egyptian family experiencing the
loss of three sons as they attempt to reach Italy by sea using
human smugglers, the film highlights the many life-threatening
dangers unaccompanied minors face on the perilous journey and in
Italy if they arrive safely.

Promoting a message for Egyptian youth to develop skills through
education and training that can provide the foundations on which
their family's future can be built, the film reiterates the need
for quality education in rural areas where migration pressure is
very high.

Recent research has shown that decent schooling in these areas
allows children to delay their decision to migrate until they have
completed secondary education.

The film, which will be aired in Egypt, is part of an IOM
programme funded by the Italian government aimed at promoting
regular migration and positive alternatives through education and
training in Fayoum Governorate.

Fayoum ranks the lowest on the human development index in Egypt
with an adult literacy rate of 57.3 per cent and an unemployment
rate among secondary school leavers of 79.9 per cent. Out of a
population of 40,000 in the village of Tatoun, some 6,000 young
people are believed to be in Italy.

As a result the Egyptian and Italian governments signed a
landmark agreement in 2009 to strengthen cooperation on the
irregular migration of unaccompanied minors, launching information
and advocacy campaigns, and enhancing youth employability through
better academic and vocational education.

As an early intervention, IOM has renovated Qaroun School in
Fayoum and upgraded its curriculum to include courses in tourism
and hotel management. Language training will also be offered, in a
bid to increase students' chances of employment in Egypt and
abroad.

For more information, please contact:

Piera F. Solinas

IOM Cairo

E-mail: "mailto:pfsolinas@iom.int">pfsolinas@iom.int

or

visit "http://www.egypt.iom.int/UAMCampaign.htm" target="_blank" title=
"">www.egypt.iom.int/UAMCampaign.htm