Help local association protect migrants in Senegal

This year, I'm fundraising for the Association of Repatriated Youth in the town of Thiaroye in Senegal (AJRAP). This small group of dedicated people from this fishing village have been working since 2006 to help their villagers survive and stop the hundreds of migrant deaths at sea that come from departures from their shores. But today they are struggling just to continue to exist--even after a huge increase in migrant departures since 2019.

As an academic doing research in this area, I have met many associations doing similar kinds of work, and I can see their sincere dedication and work toward this cause that deeply troubles their community. I am making this fundraiser to provide urgently needed basic funds directly to this group so that they can continue their work. They will receive 100% of anything raised. With these funds, they will be able to:

-pay their rent so they don't get evicted

-pay their electric bill

-provide food for their association members

-continue providing basic services, like aid to families who have lost children migrating by sea

-provide information to reduce harm to would-be migrants

-develop trainings to offer other sources of income

They are an ultra-local organization trying to hold their village together, so even small contributions would be extremely helpful.

Thiaroye-sur-mer is a fishing village whose whole economy depended on fishing-- now with large foreign fishing operations, this source has dwindled to almost nothing, pushing people to feel they have no choice but to migrate. The association depends on short-term projects with small amounts of funding from foreign funders (mostly European development funds) and have a very hard time subsisting in between projects. Thanks to their work, they have reduced the number of people who perish at sea leaving Senegal for the Canary Islands in small fishing boats, and help those who return after being deported during or after their voyage. They develop and participate in trainings to offer an alternative to migrating, provide information to reduce harm to migrants, they help families who have lost people on the migration route, and they do their best to raise awareness nationally about the tragedies. The founder was himself sent back after an unsuccessful attempt to make the crossing in 2006, a year in which this small village lost over 300 who died trying to migrate to Europe. Because of large scale fishing, much of their basic livelihood is gone, and this small association of dedicated members are every day doing what they can to help. Although they cannot alone stop migrant death (only improved policy and legalization would do so), their work saves lives.