About STAY Africa
STAY Africa (Sustainable Training and Alternatives for Youth in Africa) exists to transform the forces that push young Africans toward unsafe migration into opportunities that anchor them in dignity, stability, and hope. The programme was founded to address a crisis defined by limited livelihoods, fragile governance, and recurring climate shocks that make irregular migration appear as the only path forward.
The Crisis We Must Address
According to the IOM World Migration Report 2024, there are now 281 million international migrants—3.6% of the global population—an increase of more than 60% since 2000. In 2023, over 250,000 migrants arrived in Europe by sea, many via the Eastern and Northern routes, among the deadliest in the world; the Sahara now claims twice as many lives as the Mediterranean.
Behind each statistic is a human story: a South Sudanese mother who lost two sons in the desert, an Ethiopian girl trafficked into servitude, a Kenyan boy exploited along smuggling routes—young people denied dignity and opportunity at home.
Why Irregular Migration Happens
Irregular migration is rarely impulsive; it is a strategic, collective response to structural failures—economic stagnation, political repression, climate collapse, and broken markets.
- Economic disparities & jobless growth: Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5B by 2050; 10–12M youth enter the labour market annually while job creation lags, making migration a household investment strategy.
- Political instability & repression: Conflict in Sudan displaced over 6M people; indefinite conscription in Eritrea drives youth to flee.
- Climate shocks: Agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa has declined 34% since 1961; climate could drive up to 10% of cross-border migration by mid-century.
- Market failures & household strategies: In the absence of credit, insurance, or safety nets, families use migration to hedge shocks.
The Human Cost
Between 2014–2023, tens of thousands of migrant deaths were recorded globally; nearly 60% were drownings. In 2024 alone, over 8,700 migration-related deaths occurred. Survivors endure trauma, detention, and exploitation; children and unaccompanied minors face heightened risks of trafficking and abuse.
Our Vision
STAY Africa offers a paradigm shift—from reactive assistance to proactive empowerment; from irregular migration to safe mobility and reintegration; from fragmented national responses to a coordinated regional framework that turns migration into a driver of sustainable development.