An assessment of the lived experience of out migrant; the case of women returnees in Raya Alamata

Abstract

 The main purpose of this study was to assess the lived experiences of out migrants. The study examined the push and pull factors that influenced the women returnee migrants. Qualitative method of investigation, particularly phenomenology was employed to analyze the data obtained using in-depth interview with women returnee. A total of 20 women returnee migrants were selected using snowball sampling. As a way of triangulating the data, 10 elders in the locality as well as 3 key informants gave their reflections on the causes and magnitude of migration in the study area. The findingshowed that the main causes for women returnees to migrate were economic and social problems. The economic problems were related to shortage of basic needs, unemployment and inablity to pay credit. While the social problems include gender inequality, and peer pressure, the reasons to return to their country were gender abuse, illness, eviction by the state, racism and xenophobia. The challenges they faced after return weresocial isolation, unusual behavior and negative attitude towards work. Finally, the coping mechanism returnees used include engaging in commercial sex work, re-migrating, chewing chat and drinking.   Accordingly, the study concludes that the life situation of returnees is full of social instability and it calls for further investigation to identify the mechanisms to make the returnees start stable life.