Returning home: an informed choice supported by associations in the Antilles-Guyana and Reunion

These associations generally complement the arrangements put in place by the local authorities to encourage the return of young graduates and professionals, who are vital forces for the development of the Overseas Territories.

Mobility, built into apprenticeship programs, has always played an essential role for people from abroad.

In 1963, the Office of Foreign Emigration (POMEDOM) was created to organize the departure of thousands of young people from abroad to France.

Later, the National Agency for the Integration and Promotion of Foreign Workers (ANT) was created, to develop a structured channel that would allow trainees to improve their chances of obtaining sustainable employment. This structure was then replaced by LADOM (Overseas Agency for Mobility), which aims at the economic, social and cultural development of the Overseas Territories.

Parallel to the regulated sectors, auto navigation has evolved over the years. It is the result of family or friendly solidarity, the cooperation of friends, and above all the influence of people who have achieved professional success.

Currently, the trend of returning is embodied through associations. The concept of “repatriation” refers to the movement of people who decide to return to their countries of origin. These actions are often targeted due to an aging population and brain drain, as talented people leave their area in search of better career opportunities and a better quality of life.

Martinique: Alé Viré Association

“Al Ver“It is an association created by Senator Catherine Concon with the aim of facilitating the return of Martiniques who wish to return to their country. The main objectives of the association are to combat the deportation of Martinique and to enhance the attractiveness of the territory”. Ferret “focuses in particular on encouraging the return of Martiniques to their country and their long-term economic and social integration, even if they have been gone for several years.

Sen. Catherine Concun is among those who want to reverse the population migration trend. She is convinced that Martin’s skills and the desire to return to the country are evident on a daily basis, and that it is necessary to create a framework to encourage the return of young people who have left to continue their studies and to contribute to the fight against chronic depopulation from the country.

Alé Viré operates as a research center and working group. It covers a wide range of topics including employment, networking, education, family life, attachment to the state and Martinique identity.

The association recently organized a two-day event dedicated to returning to the country, which aims to inform and support those who wish to return to Martinique. The event included workshops, lectures and testimonials to educate as many people as possible about the importance of resettling Martinique. It also facilitated connections between recruiters looking for specific profiles and candidates during the ‘Career Dating’ event. In the previous cycles, more than 400 job offers were posted, which brought joy to the many candidates who participated.

Reunion: Return of the Reunion Society in Biye

Founded in March 2020 during the confinement period, the association “Reunionese again in Pei“It continued its launch relying on digital and occasional outings, when possible, of the members. The ex-covid “Reunionese back to the pei” develops its objectives: to facilitate the return to Reunion thanks to the creation of a network based on mutual aid, and by promoting the range of skills acquired in the field of mobility, all this By relying on the Mutual Aid network, the association targets people who have returned or plan to return to Reunion after a mobility course outside the department.

The second task is to organize friendly and professional events to create a network, and to participate in promoting the return of the Reunionese as an asset to the territory. The third task is to connect the indigenous people of the region who have experienced return and those who also wish to prepare for return.

To facilitate this sharing, a support group on Facebook called “Rézot” is already allowing discussions to begin.

Finally, the fourth and final task is to develop tools! As such, the Association stands behind the Return Lab initiative, which aims to study and implement solutions to improve return support, in cooperation with various actors (institutions, associations…)

Guadeloupe: “Alle Vini” Association

Founded in December 2019, the association “Ally Vienne Guadeloupe“The task of combating the depopulation of the territory by encouraging the return of living forces to the country. It is above all the approach of a citizen who wishes to bring together all good intentions, skills and talents to formulate proposals and organize actions aimed at making the return to the country of living forces.

There is a current societal dynamic trend. Alé Vini wants to create a movement of Guadeloupeans towards Guadeloupe.

Since 2019, the association has been committed to placing the return to the country at the center of the institutional and political debate. Thanks to the daily exchanges with its members, “Alé Vini Guadeloupe” has acquired a solid knowledge of the experience and the difficulties of returning to the country, which allows us to be a source of suggestions with institutional actors.

Guyana: ASEAN: “Guyane’Envol”

Created in 2019 by two young women, Cynthia Sani and Stevie Cazale,Gwen InvolIt is an association that supports young people in building their professional projects through individual and group mentoring/care.

Its main objective is to promote mentoring among people aged between 15 and 25 in order to help them define an educational and vocational guidance project, as well as to facilitate their professional integration in Guyana after obtaining a diploma (from B.C.+3).

We support young people who wish to return to the Territory through our network. We try to send them job descriptions and job opportunities. We have also created a network around the Guyana diaspora, with mentors all over the world, as well as students. As soon as we have needs, we activate the network to allow young people at the end of their studies to position themselves. Our goal is to establish contact with students from the very beginning, to maintain contact and encourage them to return more easily.

Stevie Cazale, Co-Founder of “Guyan’Envol”

In addition to its support for young people, Guyan’Envol has other goals:

• Connecting individuals to enhance participation and cooperation for new initiatives in the educational, scientific, economic, cultural and social fields.
• Providing financial assistance to natural or legal persons in the context of implementing syndicate or commercial projects.
• Encourage private sponsorship to support entrepreneurship.
• Promote the professional, social and cultural integration of young people in Guyana.

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Support of the state and society

Professional associations and networks play a key role in helping people plan their return and integrate into the local economic and social fabric. They provide advice, training and networking opportunities

Communities also put in place incentives to encourage students to return to their area. Are we now moving towards the establishment of the “Passport to the State” system?

A bill aimed at strengthening the principle of territorial continuity was adopted unanimously (178 votes in favour) in the National Assembly on June 8, 2023.

This law includes – among other things – assistance in the purchase of plane tickets for workers living in France who can justify the creation of an activity or a promise of employment in overseas territories. This assistance is conditional on the application of CIMMs.

Excerpt from the text of the law Assistance is granted, under conditions fixed by decree, to workers living on mainland France whose center of material and moral interests lie in Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Pierre, et al. Miquelon, Wallis‑et‑Futuna, French Polynesia or New Caledonia. Its purpose is to finance part of the transport tickets “…

This assistance concerns active persons living in France who can justify the establishment of an activity or the promise of employment in the sectors of activity defined by decree in the communities mentioned in the first paragraph.