A group of marketers and communication professionals has decided to raise money for an information campaign for certain countries in the Near East and Africa via the Indiegogo.com portal. The group has set the objective to raise170 000 USD /aprx. 150 000 euros/. The campaign will inform citizens in the Near East and certain African countries about the reality of life in Europe. The campaign will be conducted via social networks in countries where the largest number of immigrants come from – in their mother tongue.

“It is important to tell immigrants what to expect in Europe. If they eventually decide to set out for Europe, they should know what they're getting themselves into, what life is like in Europe,” says the campaign author, Peter Vrábel, a former journalist and now a PR consultant for over 10 years. The human traffickers, who profit the most from these people, promise immigrants something that is unattainable. EUROPOL has also called attention to this issue. A carefree and super-comfortable life in Europe, generous social benefits, easy money. However, in most cases the reality is a lot different following arrival, which goes hand-in-hand with disappointment and frustration.

“We've been talking about what should be done for a long time now. European politicians are talking about deporting immigrants back to their countries of origin. The fact is that this is a ‘solution’ to the current issue, and that deportation itself will not be easy,” says Peter Vrábel. He adds that we are not focusing on solving the core of the present situation, and there is no awareness campaign in countries from which the immigrants come. “The European Union is not taking the necessary steps in increasing awareness. Lack of information gives criminal groups the opportunity to exploit the situation and profit from the wants of the locals. False promises then meet reality.”

As important as social media was in the Arab Spring, such media channels can now play a positive role in this immigration crisis of unmatched scale. If we manage to raise more money, the campaign will be extended to advertisements in local media or radio spots. All contributors will be informed of the campaign’s progress via a newsletter.

LINK

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/europe-zero-hour#/