The Gambia – In the bustling heart of Serrekunda, 19-year-old Fatou Jobe* once dreamed of gracing runways with her fashion designs. “I love fashion. I wanted to become a fashion designer,” she recalls, her voice tinged with both nostalgia and newfound determination. What she didn’t foresee, however, was that her path to this dream would pass through one of the darkest experiences a young woman could endure: surviving human trafficking.
Fatou’s journey began like that of many others. Coming from a modest background and having been forced to leave school due to financial hardship, her opportunities for employment were nearly nonexistent. “I am not from a rich family, so when things got tough, I had to sacrifice my education,” she says. “I dropped out of school,” she adds, her disappointment evident.
Caught between economic hardship and the allure of opportunities abroad – a narrative deeply ingrained in many communities – Fatou was vulnerable. She was approached with what seemed like a lifeline: a promise of a well-paying job in Cairo, Egypt. “I was desperate to make money to support my family,” she explains. “She [my trafficker] told me I was going to secure a good job to earn a decent income. This enticed me and led me into my reality.”
Despite her initial misgivings – how fast everything was arranged and the fact that it cost her nothing – she accepted the offer. Her journey from Banjul through Casablanca to Cairo was swift and shrouded in uncertainty. Upon arrival, she met her trafficker’s husband. In a terrifying turn of events typical in trafficking scenarios, he confiscated her passport and handed her over to unknown men. “That was just the beginning,” Fatou says.
Over the next eight months, Fatou was forced to work in four different homes under grueling conditions. The treatment she endured was degrading and abusive. At her final placement, the situation worsened. She was made to work almost non-stop and suffered repeated sexual abuse, eventually becoming pregnant. “The last workplace was the worst of all,” she reveals. “I worked – as a maid – day and night with little to no time to rest. And my ‘master’ raped me whenever he felt like.”
Realizing the promise of a “good job” was a lie, and with her pregnancy progressing, Fatou made the courageous decision to return home. “The suffering was too much. I was pregnant, so I decided to voluntarily return,” she says.
In October 2023, she returned to The Gambia under the EU-funded Migrant Protection, Return and Reintegration Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa (MPRR-SSA), which supports migrants with voluntary return and sustainable reintegration. Fatou feared judgment and stigma, but the sight of her father waiting for her at Banjul International Airport washed away her worries. “It was heartwarming to return and my dad receiving me with open arms,” she beams.
Upon arrival, she was provided temporary accommodation and prenatal medical care. “I was given temporary accommodation, and the IOM medical team provided the necessary support until I delivered,” she notes. In due time, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl – Mariama, the light at the end of her harrowing journey.
Through EU-funded reintegration assistance, Fatou received a cash-based intervention that allowed her to pursue her dream. She opened a small tailoring business, which now helps support her and her daughter. “I was paying a lot of money for rent and this was not sustainable, so I decided to close the shop and now work in my house,” she shares. “I am now using TikTok and Instagram to reach out to possible buyers, and this is paying off,” she adds with optimism.
Fatou is committed to turning her painful experience into purpose. She hopes her journey will inspire others – especially young women facing similar crossroads – to remain hopeful, resilient, and courageous.
As far as her compound gate, one could hear the needle of Fatou's sewing machine throbbing its throat plate. IOM/Badara Fall
Since it began operations in The Gambia, IOM has been working alongside the Government of The Gambia to protect and support vulnerable migrants, including victims of trafficking. In 2021, the launch of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – with EU support – marked a significant step forward in providing coordinated and compassionate assistance.
“Where I came from, my journey as a migrant, and the smiles of my daughter are what push me to strive for greater things. I have no doubt that my daughter and I will realize our dreams,” Fatou says, her face glowing as she gazes at baby Mariama.
Fatou is one of 110 Gambian returnees (36 men and 74 women) who received assistance from IOM in 2024. Her story stands as a beacon of resilience and the power of second chances.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the person.
Written by Lamin W Sanneh, National Communications Officer at IOM The Gambia
