'when God Is with Me' - Exploring the Impact of Religious Communities on Youth Migration Trajectories in Africa and the African Diaspora

The negative socio-political and economic realities of many African states make destinations like Europe the promised land for many African youth as such the migration of young people, within and outside Africa, is not a new phenomenon. What may be new, however, is the boldness and desperation with which young people uproot themselves from their countries of origin or residence, and the risks they are willing to take through dangerous transit routes to get to their destinations. While there are several transnational actors involved in these processes, religious communities in Africa and the African diaspora are significant migration actors whose influence cannot be underestimated in understanding current youth migration trends especially as they impact global and regional migration governance. Using comparative data from current research on the religious and spiritual lives of transnational young people of African migrant backgrounds in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, this paper shows the influences of these religious communities in three major areas, namely the motivations behind migration, the destinations chosen, and the transnational social support systems available for these young migrants before, during, and when they get to their destinations.