[email protected] [email protected] Child migration from the rural northeast Albania Aida Orgocka, PhD University of New York Tirana

[email protected]@partnereperfemijet.org

Child migration from the rural northeast Albania

Aida Orgocka, PhD

University of New York Tirana

Partnerë për Fëmijët


Albania

A European country that lost its mystery grip to the developed world in the early nineties when it shed off its isolation policy;

Bad press especially due to mass exodus

When one thinks of Albania and migration, more likely one may bring to mind...


Migration from Albania

Not a new concept Family migration Male migration

Child migration a relatively new phenomenon


Overview of the presentation

Context and definitions The perceived extent of the phenomenon of

unaccompanied child migration in the rural northeast Albania

Children’s own attempts to migrate Children’s future intention to leave Albania

and the modalities of this decision Awareness campaign


The invisibility of Albanian children as economic migrants Unlike Albanian adult migration, the phenomenon has

received scant attention in research. Lack pronounced also in policy documents and

migration management programmes designed and implemented by the Albanian government and international organizations in Albania

Reports and anecdotal evidence on trafficking of children;

Contractual work to evaluate family living conditions of children that have migrated;

Very far from understanding the meanings and social contexts of children’s moving to work


Definitions

A child defined as anyone between the ages of 0 and 18;

‘Economic child migrants ’ meaning any child who migrates particularly for work (Huijsmans, 2006).


Study areas

Descriptive study of household needs and child migration in the rural areas of northeastern Albania

Most depressed areas in the country;

40% children Poor school services Poor health and social

protection services

KUÇOVA

BULQIZE

MALESI E MADHE

HAS

LEZHE MIRDITE

KUKES

DIBER

TROPOJE

SHKODER PUKE

KRUJE

TIRANA DURRES

KURBIN MAT

KORCE

POGRADEC

LIBRAZHD

FIER

LUSHNJE

PEQIN

KAVAJE

PERMET TELEPENE VLORE

MALLA- KASTER

BERAT

SARANDE

DELVINE

GJIROKASTER

KOLONJE

SKRAPAR

ELBASAN

DEVOLL

GRAMSH


The survey

A face to face survey of 1500 adults and children on household needs and migration of children.

I report on the data collected in face to face interviews with 805 children. Under 10 years (25% male and 21% female) 10-14 years (50% males and 50% females) 15-18 years (25% male and 29% female) Administered in February – April 2006.

Over 95% of the children in the age groups of under 10 and between 10-14 years of age in school

Close to 85% of children in the age group of 15-18 in school. Access only to children that live in the stated area and those

that had attempted to migrate seasonally.


Being a child in northeastern Albania

Albanian legislation adopts the CRC definition of the child and foresees that it is under the state legal remit to provide for a child schooling until the age of 16.

Hard work beyond the developmental capacities of the child is banned until 16 years of age.

However…


Being a child in northeastern Albania

Children in northeastern Albania have interdependent lives: They themselves do not consider themselves as

independent of household economy; They are socialized from early on to contribute to this

economy long hours at times at the expense of other activities determined as appropriate for their age, such as education and leisure.

Children in rural northeast are economically indispensable and largely involved in the family’s household economy.


Chidren’s work activities by age and gender

Under 10 years old

10-14 years old 15 – 18 years old

Male Female Male Female Male Female

Tending herds 37% 52% 43% 65% 23% 60%

Tilling the land 9 % 3 % 18% 10% 57% 34%

Producing dairy 10% 46% 10% 78% 18% 89%

Caring for fruit trees

21% 9% 46% 23% 71% 30%

Fetching water 48% 82% 64% 89% 62% 93%

Fetching wood 29% 19% 64% 22% 84% 32%


Children’s belief to help with family income

Under 10 years old

10-14 years old 15 – 18 years old

Family has sufficient income

Male Female Male Female Male Female

Yes 50% 85% 100% 100% 100% 100%

No 9 % 3 % 18% 10% 57% 34%

Perhaps 10% 46% 10% 78% 18% 89%

Given unemployment and lack of opportunities, migration abroad is seen as a way to boost household income


Perceived extent of the phenomenon of child migration in the rural northeast

Figure 1: Children know of other children that have migrated

21%

51%

72%

17%

33%

51%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Under 10 years old

10-14 years old

15-18 years old Male

Female

A significant number of children knew of children that have left the area;

More children, and particularly males, in the age group of 15-18 years knew such children

Had migrated to Italy (77%), Greece (62%), and the UK (27%).


Sharing of experiences

Figure 2: Sharing of migration experiences

25%

51%

70%

12%

26%

44%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Under 10 years old

10-14 years old

15-18 years oldMale

Female

Experiences are shared between children that have migrated and those that have not, especially in the age group of 15-18 years in both genders


Sharing of experiences

Types of jobs that bring income begging (62%) working in other people’s homes (82%)

Help agents with migrationFigure 3: Individuals that assisted with migration

25%

45%

54%

68%

54%

54%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Mother helped

Sibling helped

Relative helped

Friend helped

Acquintance helped

Father helped


Children’s own attempts to migrate

Figure 4: Children's attempt to migrate

8%

12%

31%

6%

8%

5%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Under 10 years old

10-14 years old

15-18 years old

Female

Male

Of the total sample, only 64 children (16 females and 48 males) reported having attempted to migrate seasonally and work across the border;

Primarily 15-18 years old


Brief profile of migrant children

A considerable number of children that had reported having been hungry also reported that they had migrated for work, age group 15-18 years of age (21%) age group of 10-14 years (12%) under 10 years of age (8%).

None of the children had his/her own room and lived in crowded households

Close to 70%, irrespective of age, were sharing a bed with sibling.


Help and income

While the family members helped support children to migrate, a significant number of children had been helped by their peers. This was particularly emphasized in the age group of 10-14 years (80%) and 15-18 years (77%).

Begging brought income for more younger children, while domestic working brought income for more children in the age group of 15-18 years old.


Children’s intention to leave Albania and the modalities of this decision

In a different village in Albania

In a different city in

Albania

In a different country

Male

Female

Male Female Male Female

Under 10 years old

0% 0% 4% 0% 9% 5%

10-14 years old

9% 6% 3% 0% 33% 17%

15 – 18 years old

16%

0% 14% 3% 62% 18%


Migration – a family affair

Figure 5: Individuals with whom children discuss migration decisions

88%

88%

86%

87%

84%

78%

82%

78%

75%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Discuss with father

Discuss with mother

Discuss with siblingUnder 10 years

10-14 years

15-18 years


Family that will help

Father will help

Mother will help Older sibling will help

Male Female

Male Female Male Female

Under 10 years old

86% 57% 4% 0% 9% 5%

10-14 years old

9% 6% 3% 0% 33% 17%

15 – 18 years old

16% 0% 14% 3% 62% 18%


Giving money to help

Figure 6: Giving money to help out with child migration

36%

2%

4%

7%

48%

8%

5%

21%

40%

2%

11%

29%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

To a relative

To a neighbour

To a friend

To an acquaintance

Under 10 years of age

10-14 years

15-18 years


How will migration happen?

Only a minority of children in the age group of 10-14 years and 15-18 years[1] shared how migration would happen. About 2% in each group reported that their parents would

pay someone to help them go across the border. Close to 2% of the children in the age group of 15-18 years

shared that they would apply for studying abroad. About 10% of the children in the age group of 10-14 years

old and 3% in the age group of 15-18 years were intending to find false papers.

Asked how they would cross the border, only 2% of the 10-14 years old would go across the mountains, while the others would use the plane or ferry-boat.

[1] This is a very small base and thus needs further exploration


From findings to action

Child migration happens and will continue to happen in depressed areas of Albania.

Albeit small base, the survey suggested that children are prone to illegal migration and will place energies into engaging into such action through false papers.

Whether children migrate independently or facilitated by other people, parents and children need to be informed of the consequences of illegal migration.


Rural northeastern Albania

Documents

[email protected] [email protected] Child migration from the rural northeast Albania Aida Orgocka, PhD University of New York Tirana