Escaping the Shadow of Unemployment: Yemeni Youth Forge New Paths Abroad

Ahmed Bajoaim – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Yemen’s deteriorating economic and political situation is driving young people to leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad. Ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and a lack of political stability have crippled various sectors, making living conditions in Yemen unbearable for many, especially young people.

Thousands of young Yemenis are choosing to emigrate to other countries in search of jobs, education, and a decent life, hoping to improve their living conditions and escape the economic and social crises in their homeland. However, life in these countries isn’t without its challenges. Immigrants face significant difficulties adapting to new environments and cultures, dealing with identity issues, and navigating the tension between preserving their cultural traditions and integrating into the dominant culture of their host country, as well as finding work that matches their qualifications.

The ongoing economic failure, evident in the collapsing currency, soaring unemployment rates, and declining income levels, has led many young people to view emigration as the only solution to securing their future. Politically, the absence of any hope for resolving conflicts and restoring security and stability has increased despair and frustration among young people who feel powerless to improve their situation at home. This is according to statements from young people we will highlight in this report.

Youth Stories

Mahmood Al-Anshali, a young man who achieved his dream of emigrating after a challenging two-year journey, began considering emigration at the start of his university studies at Hadhramaut University. He realized the situation in Yemen had become unbearable, with political conflict, unemployment, difficult living conditions, and the collapse of essential services like education and healthcare, along with the resulting psychological stress, making it hard to continue his studies and career in the country.

Mahmood decided to plan his trip, understanding that emigration wasn’t easy and required time, effort, and careful planning. He clung to his hope of finding a new, stable life away from the turmoil and conflict in his homeland.

Mahmood believes that a person with goals and ambition won’t give up, no matter the difficulty, as long as they dream of living with dignity away from hardship.

Regarding his journey to the Netherlands, Mahmood says: “I faced many challenges, starting with raising the money for the trip, which was the essential first step. Then began my long journey from Yemen to Egypt, and from there to Lebanon. After that, I returned to Egypt to continue my journey; I went to Turkey, and from Turkey to Greece, then traveled through the Balkans, all to reach the Netherlands.”

He added: “I continued my journey through the Balkans – about 10 countries in Southern Europe – a path fraught with danger, until I reached Belgium, and from there, I made it to the Netherlands, where I now live. This journey from my home country to the Netherlands took two years, and now that I’m settled, I’m studying and applying for family reunification.”

The Challenges

Ali Batis, a university graduate forced into emigration due to a lack of work at home, says: “Young people abroad face significant challenges affecting their daily lives and future aspirations. The most prominent of these is the feeling of alienation and being far from family and homeland, creating difficulties adapting to new cultures and customs. There are also economic challenges, such as finding suitable and stable employment; young people find it difficult to compete in new job markets with different requirements and conditions, often unrelated to their university specializations.”

He added that “Many young people emigrating to foreign countries face significant challenges in finding work. Many are forced to learn skills and jobs completely unrelated to their academic or professional backgrounds, adding to their burden. They need to prove themselves among a large number of immigrant workers in these countries. Emigrants also face significant difficulties building new social relationships in environments radically different from their home environments.”

Ali Batis, a young man who graduated with honors, found himself forced to work in a field completely unrelated to his academic major in Saudi Arabia. This story reflects the bitter reality faced by many young Yemenis who are forced to emigrate in search of work, despite the effort and time they invested in obtaining academic degrees.

Batis’s experience, and others like it, leaves many young people in Yemen questioning the importance of higher education given the difficult circumstances in the country. With the deteriorating economy, escalating security crises, and widespread unemployment among young people, some are starting to opt out of studying and looking for faster ways to emigrate, believing that a university degree may not guarantee them a better opportunity without local job opportunities.

Mahmood Al-Anshali stressed that one of the biggest challenges he faced in the Netherlands was the language barrier, explaining that anyone wanting to integrate into a new society must start by learning the country’s language.

According to him, learning the language is not only a means of communication but a key to understanding the culture and work style, allowing you to learn from others and meet new people. He pointed out that he moved between several countries, each with a different language, which made adaptation more difficult. Learning the local language takes patience and effort, but he considers it essential for succeeding in a new environment. For him, perseverance and continued study and learning were the key ways to overcome many of the obstacles he faced.

Al-Anshali noted that among the biggest challenges faced by emigrant youth is separation from family and friends, in addition to the dangers they may encounter on their journey abroad. Despite these difficulties, there are positive outcomes, most notably the determination to pursue one’s dreams and ambitions. He quotes a line of Arabic poetry: “Don’t think of glory as a date you simply eat; you won’t reach glory until you lick the bitterness of patience,” explaining that success isn’t easy and requires many sacrifices.

Escaping Unemployment

Ali Batis believes that most young emigrants, whether in neighboring or foreign countries, have suffered greatly from unemployment in their homeland. Despite the hardships they face abroad, they consider it the best option compared to succumbing to unemployment and living below the poverty line, which has become a painful reality affecting most Yemenis as a result of the ongoing armed conflicts.

Mahmood Al-Anshali explained that the reality of Yemeni youth abroad holds promising opportunities for contribution and advancement in both academic and professional fields. When Yemeni youth integrate with other cultures, they develop a holistic perspective that combines past and future, contributing to their positive influence on their communities. This interaction helps develop their personalities and makes them more effective and beneficial in both their home country and their host communities.

He continues: “The situation in Yemen has become unbearable, whether due to political conflict, unemployment, or the deterioration of living and service conditions, in addition to the collapse of the educational, health, and mental health systems. Emigration is the best option for young people under these circumstances. Simply put, from the moment a person leaves Yemen, they are certain that the homeland is no longer suitable for living in. From morning till night, you suffer from everything, and every day we hope that tomorrow will be better, but unfortunately, things are getting worse. Anyone who wants a decent life should emigrate because someone with a goal and a dream of living will not give up.”

In conclusion, the reality of young people abroad is complex and multifaceted. While these young people face economic, cultural, and social challenges, their will to succeed and integrate remains a strong motivator to move towards a more stable future. Understanding these challenges and finding sustainable solutions is an urgent necessity, not only for the benefit of emigrant youth but also for the communities in which they live, enhancing the values of diversity and coexistence.