Algiers, Algeria – Fatomata, from Cote d’Ivoire, was promised work in Algeria like hundreds of other migrants. And like them, her dream turned into a nightmare. When she finally arrived at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), she was homeless, jobless, and overwhelmed by her situation.
“A friend recommended I come to Algeria for a domestic work position with a good salary,” she recalls. “But the job was not what I was promised, and I found myself trapped in horrible conditions for a month.”
On her way to Algeria, she spent three weeks in Niger, constantly on the move. “The faces and vehicles kept changing, but the anxiety and fear remained the same,” Fatomata says.
She was vulnerable and unsure of what the future held but she was “lucky to escape early and find IOM’s help,” she believes.
At IOM’s temporary hosting facility, Fatomata found solace in the support offered, which is dedicated to the most vulnerable, including unaccompanied children and those with medical needs.
At the facility, Fatomata received not only shelter but also essential hygienic products. To her surprise, these products, including shampoo and body lotion, were made at the centre.
“When I got to the centre, I was offered hygienic products not in regular containers, the ones we buy at the store. I used them, and they worked really well on my hair in particular,” she says.
Fatomata, alongside her trainer and a fellow migrant, crafting artisanal shampoo. Photo: IOM/Hadjer Bouguerche
A few days later, Fatomata enrolled in a vocational training session offered by IOM. The training focused on making artisanal shampoos, creams, and other cosmetic products from scratch.
“I learned and participated in the making of these products. What’s great about these activities is that they go beyond just the skill; we got to use the products ourselves, take care of our hygiene, and even receive tips from the trainer. It helped take our minds off the bad things we’d experienced,” Fatomata recalls.
For Fatomata, this was more than just a new skill – it was a chance to reclaim her sense of self and prepare for the future. She plans to use her new skills at home and start a business, especially with most of the ingredients available to her.
The IOM vocational trainer, Fatim Zahra Fofana, a specialist in cosmetology, plays a critical role in this process of recovery and empowerment.
“I always start off with a new series of activities with a theoretical session,” she explains. “I teach them about how the hair and skin function, the different types of hair and skin, and how to care for them using the artisanal products we’ll make together.”
The training sessions are hands-on and interactive. The participants pick leaves and roses from the garden, learning techniques to preserve the plants while gathering ingredients. “We take two to three days to make a complete range of products for hair and body – cleansing, nourishing, and moisturizing.”
Migrants pick up lemon leaves during a vocational training session to use as the aromatic base for artisanal shampoo. Photo: IOM/Hadjer Bogeurche
IOM Algeria’s cosmetology vocational trainer prepares the aromatic base for the artisanal shampoo using the leaves collected by the migrants. Photo: IOM/Hadjer Bouguerche
But the training doesn’t stop there. “After making the products, we set up a wellness activity, almost like a mini spa with good music. They learn the right way to apply the products, and it becomes a moment of relaxation and bonding. For women who have been through so much, it’s a chance to start taking care of themselves again. And the same goes for men, who sometimes discover a whole new world.”
Since the start 2024, over 150 migrants have benefited from the temporary shelter and assistance offered by IOM in Algeria at its protection-dedicated hosting facility (DARV), launched in August 2023. This facility supports migrants in extreme vulnerability, including those with complicated medical cases and unaccompanied and/or separated migrant children.
IOM Algeria’s cosmetology vocational trainer transfers the artisanal shampoo into a large container, where it will sit for at least 12 hours before being ready for use. Photo: IOM/Hadjer Bouguerche
Supported by the North Africa Migration and Development Project (NAMAD) funded by UK International Development and complementing ongoing efforts and contributions from other projects and programmes, the facility’s activities have provided critical support to tens of migrants like Fatomata, who seek IOM’s assistance. These activities do more than just teach skills providing them with the tools to heal, rebuild, and envision a brighter future.
This story was written by Hadjer Bouguerche.
