It breaks my heart when I see some girls from Africa hanging around and trying to get a better life in Europe. Some of them try so hard for themselves and their parents at home.
On my workshop session with some of the girls, I ask several questions about their immigration in Europe and what makes them came here. Most of them tell me "Sister it is tough out there". I asked what is tough. They say: How can we get the life we want if I am not educated, and have the family pressure at home? How can we be free if at 12 they get you married to a 40 years old man? How can I get the life I want when I say that I want to divorce and they reject me or marginalise me? How can I be me, if my life and future are uncertain? How I can make it if my parents are poor and can't pay for my education?

Europe is my own escape zone, when in Europe, I can do cleaning jobs, I can work at MacDonald, I can be a nurse, I can work in supermarket and I can earn money in many ways….I want…. and send it home. At least I get something ................I just have to work harder! Some of the girls have been abused and never spoke about it, for them that's life, the pain will pass with time..

Lots of women in different countries choose to immigrate in Europe. The home office has changed its law about immigration and it is even tougher for the African girls to come and live in the UK

2 weeks ago I was at the Home office to assist a friend of mine that wanted to bring his girlfriend from Sudan; they refused her entry to the UK. He was very angry to not have her. We have appealed and waiting for results.

What the girls will do if they can't apply for Visas to come and live in Europe anymore? Life is tough for Europeans to, but the good news is the African landscape is not yet saturated, we can develop new market for girls, give them a better education system, teach them skills, help them become entrepreneurs, give them tools, help them learn about new technologies, etc… so many things.

Desperation is what is bringing them here sometimes, the ones that have made it have fought very hard, the new generation of African women can make it at home and succeed very well. If they are well educated, they are emancipated and travel across the Globe with no restriction.

That's why the Mariéme Jamme Foundation is helping them become self sufficient, self reliable, self confident and sustainable trough project and charities like this Charity. Please see Video Viola Vaughn in Senegal.

We have 2500 girls in Kaolack- Senegal (West Africa), 6 centres, and by 2010, we are looking to have 3500 girls. 100 girls are on the social entrepreneurship program and we are looking to maximise this to 200 by 2010.

I sincerely believe that if we help develop more sustainable program that empower women, men and children through education, health, wealth and social entrepreneurship the African continent by 2020 will see a massive decrease in immigration.