Diese Präsentation hielt Paulina Alex, Direktorin von Nelico (New Light Children Organization) aus Geita, Tansania am 18.04.2012 am Ethnologischen Seminar der Universität Basel.

1. Presentation on:
“ YOUTH MIGRATION IN GE ITA
RE GION OF TANZANIA”
Held on 18 April 2012
Berne Switzerland
Prepared by:
Paulina Alex
Executive Director
New Light Children Center Organization (NELICO)
Bomani Street, Plot No. 153, Block ‘K’, P.O.Box 160
Geita, Tanzania
Tel: +255 28 2520 332Mobile: +255 784 940 550
Emails: admin@nelicotz.org/newlightforchildren@yahoo.com
Website: www.nelicotz.org

2. Introduction:
This presentation discusses the
concept of youth migration in
TZ/Geita Region; factors leading to
youth migration; places where youth
live and work in the Region; positive
and negative effects of youth
migration; negative the myth behind
youth migration in the Region;

3. youth migrants settlement in the region;
the status of their contacts with their
families back home and notable success
stories.

4. B ack gr ound i nfor mati on:
New Light Children Center
Organization (NELICO) is a non
governmental and non profit
making organization registered
under the laws of Tanzania.
NELICO strives mainly to
advocate for children’s rights and
youth empowerment in Tanzania.

5. NELICO has been
supported by terre
des hommes
Switzerland for
more than five
years. The
interventions
supported by tdh
are psychosocial
support, legal aid,
youth
empowerment and
Firelight Club members get briefing from a plant operator
street children.
and geologist during their visit to GGM.

6. With the support of
tdh under these
interventions
NELICO has been
able to track youth
migration in Geita
Region especially
when dealing with
youth and street
children.

7. Where do youths migrate from?
• Youths migrate mainly from areas which
experience either acute problems of under
development such as Kigoma, Tabora,
Singida, Manyara or acute problems of
land shortage such as Kilimanjaro,
Morogoro and Arusha regions

8. Factors for Youth Migration:
• The push factors favoring youth
migrations include low incomes, lack and
inaccessibility of social services, land
shortage, unemployment and a host of
other socio-cultural factors.

9. Factors for Youth Migration:
• The pull factors include the prospects
for a better living, prospects for
employment and self- employment,
and perceived availability
of/accessibility to better social
services.

10. Factors for Youth Migration
• In Geita there is the existence of small
and large scale mines: This is a two fold
factor. First and foremost, youth migrate
to Geita to seek self employment in the
small scale mines and others seeking
formal employment with the large scale
mining companies primarily Geita Gold
Mine Limited (GGM) owned by AngloGold
Ashanti.

12. • Secondly, other youth migrate to
Geita to seek for employment in
entertainment places like bar and
groceries. However, the studies show
that such youth of which many of
them are girls, are used in sexual
business.
• Fishing activities is another factor that
attract youth to come to Geita. Youth
come to Geita to conduct fishing
activities which some years back, the
sector earned Tanzania considerable
revenue in its export.

14. • Youth migrant to Geita to work as cyclists
and motorists, whereas bicycles and
motor bikes are used as major means of
transport.

16. Places Youth Live and Work:
In migrating to Geita there are definite places
where youth live and work. The first place is
Geita Town where many youth undertake
small businesses. Secondly, areas like
Nyarugusu, Mgusu and Lwamugusa where
small scale mining activities are conducted.
Thirdly, Nkome where fishing activities are
conducted.

18. • Youth get employed in the large scale
mining companies particularly Geita
Gold Mine a company owned by
AngloGold Ashanti.

20. Positive E ffects of Youth Migration:
• Youth have been able to lead their own
lives by gaining substantial amount of
money from small scale mines.
• Youth have been able to start their
own projects/businesses in Geita and
managed to employ other youth.
• Reduced crimes among youth due to
earnings obtained from the small scale
mines that satisfy their needs.

21. Negative E ffects of Youth Migration:
• Tremendous increase of population
within the region and that leads into
scramble and partition of the available
limited resources.
• Wide spread of HIV/AIDS in the region
due to great interaction of youth
migrants and the indigenous.
• Insecurity created by youth to the large
scale miners like GGM by marching into
the fields of the large scale miners to
collect the left over ores.

23. • Excessive use of
alcohol among
youth in the
small scale
mining and
fishing
operations.

24. E r r oneous M yth among Youth on
M i gr ati ng to G ei ta R egi on:
Youth migrate to Geita with a view of
getting wealth from the mines (both
small and large). For they presume
that people who are living and working
in the goldfields have a lot of money
and live luxurious life.

25. Youth’s settlement i n the R egi on:
Those youth who come for the purpose
of working in the small mines do settle
for a longer period compared to those
who are involved in fishing activities
who do move from one place to
another within/out of the region
searching for fish.

26. Youth Contacts wi th thei r
F ami li es:
• Not all youth migrating to Geita keep
contacting their families back home.
Some of them fail to do also after
being dragged in mob of youth using
excessive drugs and alcohol.
• On the other hand, most of youth that
are employed by the large mining
companies like GGM have regularly
contacts with their families back home.

27. Success stories:
There are viable economic projects
created by youth migrant in the small
scale mining sector. These projects
have not only supported the owners but
also offer employment to other youth
within the region. These projects
include but not limited to crushers of
gold; groceries/bars; jewelers; hotels
and guest houses just to mention a
few.

28. • Geita has been a center for business for many youth
migrants. Youth are involved in both petty businesses
as matching guys and whole sale dealers in many
commodities like fruits-pineapples, clothes, cell
phones; youth also work in the industry mechanics.

30. Amos is a twenty five year old young man who came in Geita
looking for a mechanic job in Geita Gold Mine (GGM) in 2007.
He fortunately secured a job with one of subcontracted
companies working with GGM as a mechanic, a job that he
admired. He was earning a salary of TZS 120,000/= per month,
which is equivalent to USD $77. After working for almost two
years, he made an evaluation of his income and the
achievements that he made within the two years of his work.
Unfortunately he found that he did not make any step forward
especially in fulfillment of his dream. He decided to quit the job
and learned to be a tax driver. This time he changed his carrier
and decided to get employed as tax driver a job that he did while
working as a mechanic. The following two years, the new carrier
earned Amos substantial amount of money that managed him to
buy his own second hand tax which is in good condition. He
now rejoice on the decision he made for he can cater for his
family and remain with a balance of erecting a building.

31. Thank you for your attention
You are welcome
To Tanzania
THE END