About the Project
What are the constraints and opportunies linked to migration for adolescent girls? How do they affect their capacity to choose and to act to determine their future opportunities?
This research, funded by the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), explored the links between migration of adolescent girls and development in the Global South through a holistic approach that contextualises adolescents’ and young women’s agency, choices and migration experiences in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Sudan. The research fills an existing gap in knowledge about the reasons adolescent girls migrate and their aspirations and experiences. It provides insights into their agency and capacity to choose, their future opportunities, as well as constraints and how these are shaped contextually. The project feeds into the global campaign “Destination Unknown” recently launched by Terre des Hommes (TDH) who was a project partner. The research contributed to global policy debates by producing policy relevant analysis, data and recommendations.
Among other outcomes, a movie has been shot in Bangladesh and in Ethiopia to document migrant girls' lives in these two countries. Directed by a professional team, the documentary movie was funded by the University of Sussex, Terre des Hommes and Feminist Review Trust.
The research team is grateful to Jacqueline Barrin, Terre de Ridder, Kakoli Saha, Ushree Barua, Rupa Strala Mollick, Mahmuda Mushina Bushra, Bably Akter, Tanisa, Khadija, Mim Akter, Eity, Hajera Akter Ananna, Felegebirhan Belesti, Arsema Solomon, Medareshaw Tafesse, Aynadis Yohannes, Kidist Temasgen Belay, Kidist Worku, Ruta Zekarias, Bisrat Solomon, Hibret Tesfay and Bana for their research assistance.