The International Organization for Migration Special Liaison Office (IOM SLO) in Ethiopia screened the Surprising Europe III selected documentaries to Addis Ababa University students on 26 February, 2015.

The screening which was attended by over two hundred students featured the lives of African Migrants and challenges they face in Europe followed by a lively discussion between the Addis Ababa students and IOM.

Reflections of the students highlighted that the screening has been a real eye-opener in showing the reality of lives of irregular African Migrants in Europe. “It is hard to travel from one place to another without proper documentation. I have faced a similar problem even when I was traveling from the countryside to the city of Addis Ababa to look for work. I had to beg for some money to even find money to return to the countryside,” reminding a student of his own experience.

“The screening is touching. I am sure even smugglers would feel the pain if they see it,” said another student after viewing.  The limitation of the legal channel is one of the factors the students mentioned as a push factor to the irregular migration. “When there are no ways to travel regularly, it is no wonder how people would opt to go illegally.” A student commented at the discussion, while another said, we need to look into proper channels such as applying for scholarships and looking for jobs online.

The students were also briefed on what IOM does to support migrants with regard to prevention of irregular migration, reintegration of the returnees and combatting trafficking in persons.                     

Surprising Europe contributes to the debate concerning international migration in general and African migration in particular. Surprising Europe’s aim is to elucidate the image of Europe as it exists in Africa by giving information and facilitating the exchange of information. The project also aims at encouraging discussions on a range of topics including return / reintegration of migrants from overseas to countries in Africa.

When it was launched in 2011, Surprising Europe received wide distribution through international media channels. Over the summer of 2011, Al Jazeera English (AJE) broadcasted the series and documentary worldwide, with a potential range of 220 million viewers worldwide. Both were also broadcasted on Dutch national television.

Phase two (2013) took the project closer to the target groups (potential migrants to Europe). Via the IOM missions in Senegal, Republic of Congo, Uganda and Ghana, the project was promoted through events in cooperation with national and local media. Each mission organized a media event and promoted the video locally.

Prior to the screening in February 2015, in Addis Ababa, IOM SLO has screened selected episodes from the collection of Surprising Europe documentary series at the Italian Cultural Institute on December 2014. The screening events have been attended by hundreds of people including students and raised discussions amongst viewers. In a humorous and yet educational style, the short film episodes highlighted the reality of African migrants’ lives to viewers in Addis Ababa. Similar screening was also held in Tigray. The attendees for the event were close to 100 Eritrean Community Conversation Facilitators participating at IOM’s training program organized in Mai Aini, Adi-Harush and Hitsats camps.