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Southeast Asia • Philippines

Engaging migrant workers and families in social structures towards promoting safe and regular migration

Every day, many women from the island of Mindanao leave their families to migrate abroad for work. A large percentage end up being exploited and abused. Together with our partner organization, MMCEAI, we aim to facilitate for a safer migration process for all stakeholders involved.

E Participants in a stakeholder dialogue discuss strategies for safe labour migration. MMCEAI brought together 52 representatives from local government agencies and community organizations (Photo: AWO International) Participants in a stakeholder dialogue discuss strategies for safe labour migration. MMCEAI brought together 52 representatives from local government agencies and community organizations (Photo: AWO International)

Giving migrant women a voice

Training for trainers of Community Migrants Associations (CMAs) on safe migration. (Photo: AWO International)
Training for trainers of Community Migrants Associations (CMAs) on safe migration. (Photo: AWO International)

Formed in 2007, the Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions Inc. (MMCEAI) is a rights-based service organization for migrants of Mindanao - active and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their immediate families and communities.  

Together with AWO International, the project with MMCEAI aims to address the reduction of vulnerable conditions of migrant workers and their families to exploitation and abuse in the form of a rights-based development intervention. Three core strategies are undertaken: Capability Building and Development, Partnership and Networking, and Advocacy & Campaign Action.  

The project will ensure that migrants and their families are capacitated, and actively engaged; and key stakeholders will be also involved through consultation and dialogue. Collectively, a framework of action to advocate migration and development was designed. Besides women migrants - active, returned, and would-be migrant workers - the project will involve Anak OFWs (children of Filipino migrant workers) and left-behind families. Believing that the challenges can be better addressed if the voices of those affected are heard, stakeholders - such as media, church, civil society organizations, and national government agencies and local government units – will be involved in the discourse of migration, environment, peace and development.

Project information

ProjectEngaging Migrant Workers and Families in Social Structures towards Promoting Safe and Regular Migration
Place/RegionDavao City – specifically in Barangay Calinan, Los Amigos, Mintal, Sto. Niño, Bago Aplaya, Talomo – Muslim Village, Matina Crossing, and Bucana 76-A; BARMM, SOCKKSARGEN, CARAGA, NORTHERN MINDANAO
PartnerMindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions Inc. (MMCEAI)
Target group

Community migrant associations; left behind families (households with migrants abroad); returned migrants; children of migrants; various types of organizations (civil society organizations, media, church people, educators, labor unions, etc.); relevant lo

Activities
  • Reducing the risks and vulnerabilities of abuse and exploitation of (women) migrant workers through the promotion of safe migration by social structures in Mindanao
  • Helping migrant-affected people in target communities assert their rights and entitlements
  • Strengthening barangay local government units’ implementation of existing guidelines and laws on safe and regular migration
  • Ensuring that migrant workers are better protected through improved local policies on safe migration on a sub-national level (with a focus on specific administrative and autonomous regions in Mindanao)
  • Increasing the local community’s acceptance of MMCEAI as an actor in the promotion of safe migration
Duration2021-2023
Budget73.333 Euro p.a.
SponsorBMZ

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