And welcome back to my channel! Today we're starting a new vlog series which is ironic because it's about finishing book series. So the name for this series, total credit to one of my patrons, Taylor, because I did not come up with it, but it's called Series Wife Out and every month we are gonna be finishing off some series. A lot of you will know one of my biggest reading goals this year is to get down to only 26 ongoing series because I think I have about 16 that I won't be able to finish so that plus 10 others is what I'm going for. So Series Wife Out is basically gonna be making me do that. So every month we are gonna be finishing a series. So I'll give you a little review of what I thought the first book and then we'll read the other books in the series. But this first episode is gonna be a little bit different. Last year I uploaded a video talking about every series I was in the middle of and in the description was a poll for you guys to vote on what series you wanted me to make progress in and so we're gonna be reading the series that you guys chose for me to read. So excited! Now you were very kind because you chose some of the only series where I only had the last book left to read. So we're gonna be finishing three series. Not gonna be making progress, we'll be finishing three series in this video which is a great start. We're starting year on 41 so we've got to finish 15. 15 in total and this will get us three of the way there. So I'm super happy you guys are in super kind and I was actually really surprised to see what you voted for. So let's check about how many votes we got. So almost 600 of you filled out the poll which is kind of crazy and I said that you could pick up to three books each so that's why the numbers are gonna be quite big for how many of you voted for each of these. But the first, this first one, 44% of you voted for. It had 254 votes so most of you wanted me to read this and hear what I thought about it as good as dead by Holly Jackson. This is a place for legends, okay? So I am so excited to read this. This has been one of my favorite series ever. It is by far my favorite YA mystery series. I think it's absolutely incredible. We're following Pip who solves cases in her local town and in this one I believe she has a stalker who is sending her letters saying who will look for you when you're the one who disappears. So she is the case that she is trying to solve in this one and I'm just so excited to see you know where this series ends up, where Pip ends up as a character and to read a mystery because I love a good mystery. So that's the first one that you voted for. Then coming in at number two with 214 votes was Act Your Age Eve Brown which I was kind of not anticipating seeing because I don't read a ton of romance so I didn't think that would be something you voted for but I suppose it is a super popular series. So in this we're following the Brown sisters and each of the books and them having a romance and in this we're following Eve who's the baby of the family. I don't really know much about the plot but I've really enjoyed the first two. You know Talia Hibbit is kind of one of the only romance authors I've really enjoyed reading from so I'm so excited. I really wasn't expecting to pick this. I thought you'd pick mainly fantasy so I thought this was a really fun you know one to put in the mix. And then finally you guys um the final one 31% of you voted for with 180 votes. The King of Crows. Please do not. This is an intense request from my heart. I am not meaning to shame you. This is the King of Crows. This is the King of Crows by Libba Bray. So this is the final in the Diviners series where we're following these like a scooby gang of friends who are diviners who have these special powers in 1920s New York and there's there's been this character called the King of Crows who's been in it from the first book like subtly.  I'm so nervous to read this one because yeah not a lot of people have loved this one. It hasn't been super loved but I'm excited to be back with like our cast of characters in the 1920s atmosphere again so yeah but I've put off reading this like a bajillion times like many of you will know I've been supposed to read it like 20 times and haven't read it. So those are the three books that we're gonna be reading in this vlog and I'm super excited to see how they're all gonna turn out. I'm gonna start with as good as dead because I can't contain myself and I need to see where this book goes so I'm gonna start with this one and I'll check in with you in a bit.    I wasn't quite into them I was like oh my god this is not good and then it's picked up it's picked up ladies and gentlemen and I'm loving it but here's the thing I'm on page 246 when I tell you the plot twist had just happened but this is the kind of thing I I feel like should happen at the end of the book not right now not right now what we've still got half of the overhaul of the book to go.    Holly Jackson I'm about to sue you.  Okay so obviously this is the third book in the series so we're going off vibes we check in so these books listen okay so in this she has a stool chair she's trying to figure out what is happening and like I am emotionally attacked I feel tense like the route that this is going down is so different firstly Pip is like she's been doing more shit than I think a human can handle so she's a little bit losing it she's like she's conscious that she's losing it but she's losing it so we're in the first book she'll have this very like you know trustworthy like main character who is like very kind of to the point knows what she's investigating knows what she wants although she has like ups and downs like she's got a what the audience would refer to as like a good head on her shoulders this one the head to skew it like she's losing it and so that's an interesting element where you're not sure how much you can trust what she's saying what she's thinking etc but holy shit the route that this has gone down I can't even tell you the kind of general route and investigation we're on now because I think it's a spoiler but like I when I tell you I'm on live to my patrons right now we're doing reading sprints and when I tell you I got like I I put the book down I just looked at all of them like this the woman was too stunned to speak I just know the second half is gonna be crazy I feel like it's gonna be level like no exit levels of tense I feel sick I'm gonna throw up I actually can't take this I actually can't take this this is so good this is so good oh my god because here's the thing we just have like a little serious investigations and I was like I know what the fuck's going on here and very rarely do you feel a step ahead of Pip in the investigations but she was her and Ravi her friend were well come into the wrong conclusions I was like bitches fucking get your goggles on and listen let's read this shit again because you're not catching on to what's going on here I still think I'm right but I don't expect this to happen what the hell so I know I'm right but I think I not I was supposed to know I'm right but now I can't even I can't even take it what is gonna happen oh my god I need to finish this whole book tonight like I don't give a fuck like I've got 250 pages left I need to finish this whole ass book tonight so I'm on sprints on my patrons the next couple hours I've gotta get up fairly early in the morning so I gotta drive I'm gonna drive um to the doctor appointment I've got quite a ways away from me at a different hospital but like sleep is for the week sleep is for the week this book is so good oh my god okay I'm gonna go carry on reading it I'm gonna go finish it on the live of my patrons and um then I'm gonna then I'm gonna go cry I actually I think I need to pace for a bit because I actually I actually am gonna throw up okay let's go find out what happens next I don't even think I don't think hang on you're not quite right let's prop you up a bit I don't think I'm emotionally ready I'm like I'm holding up right to talk about this book like I you guys I remember thinking I'm about to beat this bitch up so um fuck five stars five stars I think this may whoa is this my favorite in the series this is my favorite book in the series and a good girl's guide to murder was my sixth favorite book last year so I think that that shows you how much I loved this this book is fucking bonkers like I can't explain to you enough how crazy this book is I was not I finished it last night yesterday afternoon I could not talk to you mm-hmm that was not happening because oh my god like I can't I can't talk to you I was sobbing the end of this book got me like okay so without this isn't a spoiler but the end of the book is a little bit some people I've read some reviews that weren't spoilery either so I can say it that that called the ending unresolved but I love that I love when there's a little these characters we love so much I think it would feel wrong to shut the book and you're like that's it you know you're like that's the end a book that that lets you imagine what the future holds but whilst fucking ripping your heart out and stomping on it I I really like it so I mean I fucking out this book is crazy very similar levels to no exit it kind of spirals into of craziness and it really goes down a route that you could never predict like I could have never have guessed that this is where this book was gonna go you guys it is fantastic I was so paranoid when reading this book like I'd shut it and I'd be like well this whole series is so into like texting and and internet searches and emails and like like people's digital traces and people people say like I was like oh my god like can I google like the time my post office shuts or are the police gonna come run to my house like do you know what I mean like I I was like so paranoid I was reading this book I can't trust them they don't know what they're doing Holly Jackson is a fucking superstar this series is the best YA mystery series out there there I'm saying it I'm saying it I have asserted that position like I can't emphasize you enough how good a writer Holly Jackson is and I love when over a series the first one is fucking bomb but you can still see a progression of a writer and this this book feels so ambitious and it pulls it off it's amazing how the mystery in this is spun like little details that you learn on page 100 or page 200 come back at the end and like blow everything apart do you know what I mean like little details that you think are just window dressing like details of the mystery like suddenly that is so important and you're like wow that was planted so well like it's just so well done and sometimes the way I feel about this book in this series sometimes you can love a book or a series so much that you can just kind of sink into it like sometimes I'm reading at the moment I really notice a book that I love because I don't have to like set timers for myself for reading like otherwise when I'm reading I typically set like pomodoro timers when I'm reading like I'll reach 25 minutes then give myself a five-minute break but this book you could not pry it out of my hands like for the last this much I would say of the book I could not stop you were not stopping me I was just laying there like this like it was just incredible and I'm so excited to read anything that Holly Jackson puts out in the future like I I'm just so excited what a great way to start 2022 finishing a series tic-tic tic-tic and one of my favorite series ever and it being five stars you gotta go because you would have nobody thank you god oh my god okay crazy honestly the twist this takes halfway through I can't I can't explain to you how good it is so if this is your push to start this series start a good girls guy tomato series like please do it because this was incredible I'm hoping to read killjoy this month which is like a prequel short story I need to get ahead on some of my other reading first if I have time I'm gonna fit that in and then that truly is the series like shut for me like done this is amazing this is amazing and now we've got to read the king of crows by libra bray so listen I'm very scared of this book it's long the audiobook is 22 hours long that's just not me like that's just not the person I am but we've got to we've got to read it we've got to read it and then we finish the series so I think I need to go read like a recapitans or a recap of the series because I I feel like there's a lot of details I cannot remember from the end of this book or the last book sorry and then we'll start it now I am excited to go back into this New York world again but I've just heard so many not good things that I don't have the highest hopes but let's see let's let's go and see okay so I'm about 100 pages in to king of crows I've read that much whoa it feels like I've read a lot more than that this book is like 500 something pages that is it's a bit long libra it's a little bit long I'm enjoying it like it's this is quite good but I feel like this book was always going to hinge on how it ends on how it ends the whole series it's fine at the moment but we haven't gone into the meat of everything I'm enjoying being back in like the 1920s world I'm enjoying being back with like the scooby gang of characters I think it's I think it started off pretty strong I think it started off like straight into the action which is kind of what you want I will say the king of crows is a villain that the whole series is being building up to so kind of from the beginning you get the sense of this character being there and you know that he's going to be like the end villain and you have like other villains of the week monsters of the week essentially like in all the other books you have an individual villain and the king crows is the kind of pervading character across the whole series and like I don't know if I'm convinced of him I don't know if I am scared of him at all he's not really giving me anything he's a little bit boring and I'm just not feeling it so like the king of crows not not really bothered which is what the whole thing hinges on me anytime the king of crows turns up I don't want to be a bitch but you guys are really boring I will say I'm pissed off I'm still angry I'm still so angry that liverbro writes an entire book based on Henry and Ling to make me fall in love with them and to make them my favorite characters in the whole in the whole series by a country mile and then they're just like kind of ignored they're just kind of ignored to the rest of the series and it's outrageous frankly it's outrageous like they're barely notable they're barely doing anything Theta okay she's a cool gal but like she's nothing on Henry and Ling and their dynamic their dynamic was one of the purest friendships like I mean when do you see a friendship like that you don't anyway this isn't spoilers for the second book by the way because like you know who cares it's like the synopsis of it but honestly outrageous that she makes me that attach those characters and then they're just irrelevant how can you do that what is the purpose of that I just I'm so angry about that but the book is fine I'm listening to the audiobook which I've never done before and I'm enjoying it like it's okay I'm not loving it I think I got so attached to some of those characters in layer of dreams and I loved the route that layer of dreams went down but I think I lost a lot of love for this series in the third book so now it's just something I'm enjoying reading but I don't feel particularly passionate about if that makes sense I don't know I also feel like the whole such I love the 1920s setting in New York I feel like the story hasn't progressed that much I almost wish we could have come out of New York for one of the books in the series like the second or third I feel like we should have gone somewhere else because it's gotten a bit stagnant and I feel like it's relying on that a bit too much so I feel like it would have worked better if we'd exited New York for a period and then we're back in it also add to the fact that one of my favorite characters from the start of the series is dead not a spoiler like you know people are gonna die but one of my favorite characters is dead and so like I don't even have them to like get me excited so I don't know I don't know how I'm feeling about it I'm gonna read some more then I'm gonna tidy my room and listen to audiobook and hopefully I'll make some good progress today I'd like to even try and finish it today because I really want to speed up my reading it's the 20th today I don't know it's the 21st oh my god I've only finished four books so far that's not very good for me like that's not very good January hasn't been a great reading month I've kind of been getting on my feet in other areas of life so I would like to try and finish this tonight I'm not doing much else today so I'm going to try and rely on the audio book quite a lot but the audiobook is very long like I'm listening to it on I'm listening to it on three times speed and I've got six hours left and it's currently in quarter past three in the afternoon so wish me luck um but yeah I'm gonna go just listen to the audiobook for a bit which obviously will take me down to 1.8 speed which we have 10 hours left anyway I'm gonna go read some more and I'll check with you when I've probably read like another 150 200 pages I don't even want to talk I don't want to talk about this book I've been putting off filming this clip I've been putting off reading more of it it's not bad it's not bad I'm just a bit bored like it's long this book does not need to be this long it's like I'm reading it and I'm getting nowhere like it's like a pasta dish like you know when you're eating pasta and you're like it just keeps on going it just it keeps being more of it it's so it's so piping hot I've spilled it all over my dress what now it's not bad it's not it's fine like the characters some of them are going on interest well interesting things are happening I'm getting very close interesting things are happening I'm on like page 350 ish uh no I'm not page 320 yeah like interesting things are happening but I don't feel like any of our characters are like developing at all they're just waiting like this feels like a book of waiting why are we waiting that we could have sped it up a little bit like should we speed it up a little bit so I don't feel like there are an interesting character arcs and this has become so character focused and like nothing's happening like it's taking far too long something I always loved about the Divina series was like how it would like almost zoom out on New York and like so you'd have something happen to our characters and then we'd learn what was happening to like ordinary people like on the other side of the city or something like it always took the whole population into account which I think some fantasy doesn't do like it kind of like ignores other people and like the impact that it has on them but the whole time I'm reading this book I'm not getting excited about reading this book I'm getting excited about other books I'm getting excited about all the books I can read once this book is done I've already read four books it is the 20 what is it the 23rd is it the 23rd it's the 24th of January you guys I've read four books and it's all because I was putting off reading this book for ages I know it's taking the ages to read it so like it's a scam it's a scam and I just want to finish it so I can read other stuff because I genuinely believe this kind of mini slump I've started the year in is gonna be gone once I finish this book so listen it's not like it's bad it's not bad but depending on how it ends it could be anywhere from like a 3.5 maybe more 3 to a 2 now it's much more likely to be a 3 I don't think it's bad then it's next like it'll be 2.5 then it has a minuscule chance of being a 2 but it still has a chance do you know what I mean so it's much more skewed towards 3 but I don't know it's something about it the pace is just not keeping me interested it's not keeping me vibing like I'm bored I'm bored so I'm gonna try and finish wow I'm not gonna finish it tonight because I'm going out for dinner now but I'm gonna get as close to finishing it as I can hopefully I'll have time to read a little bit tonight because yeah it just it just needs to get finished it needs to get finished I need to move on to other stuff because I'm not really feeling it and it's not fair to the book because I've kind of already mentally checked out you know okay so we have a lot to talk about because a lot of reading as I can you guys I've finished it I'm finishing it and it was rough it was rough it was rough dear god where did you go I gave it two stars in the end and it was rough I haven't I've delayed talking about this because it's hard I can't believe this is finished I can't believe I've finally finished this series I can't tell you it's very satisfying to finish the series so I'm glad I've read it I'm glad I finished the book you know finished the whole arc but the pacing in this oh my seals my favorite book mark was in there the pacing in this was off it was not just off it was like sour sour the pacing was sour it was so boring the second half this was so boring and you just constantly you're waiting for the end you're waiting for the end there's like 150 pages in this book where we're in this one place which obviously I can't say but we're like in this one place we're stuck there I'm sorry about the weird lighting oh well yeah we're stuck in this place and like nothing we're just walking around in circles we're just walking around in circles and then you're waiting for like this big climactic end fight fight fight let's fight you know that the whole series has been building up to with the king of crows and it just like whimpered out it whimpered out the ending you're expecting me to believe that that is how that ends no you're looking at me and you're gonna tell me that I'm wrong am I wrong it was likely my brain didn't know how to end all of a sudden she didn't know how to end the big end scene which like it doesn't make any sense because the other book I think they've all been pretty good like the ending has been pretty good the ending to this was not satisfying at all not satisfying in the slightest now did I cry yes I did cry a few times at the end because libra praise writing is still amazing like it's so beautiful it's so emotional it's so complex like her writing is really good in terms of the language in terms of making you feel something like I felt something like I've cried a couple times I was so attached to these characters but this book was off like I can't even begin to explain it to you the reason it's not one star is because I cried like I felt something like there were moments I enjoyed but it was so fucking boring it was boring I'm so sorry I'm so sorry like I know I don't want to be dunking on this book like I don't want to be saying this shit it felt like the vibration had gone back to the drawing board with like the last book in the series and should have written something different I don't I don't feel like this was a fitting end to the series I'm kind of forget it exists but I'm glad I finished it but like what a disappointment what a shame like it's very sad very very sad also the king of crows let's just talk about this for a second the king of crows is in the whole series this isn't a spoiler like he's there from the beginning the most boring main villain he had no spies I don't care what anyone says he's boring he's straight up stupid like he's stupid he's stupid he's stupid he's stupid he's stupid where's the flavor where's the flavor in this I spent like three weeks of my life reading that in what world but anyway I am now actually over already over halfway through actual ag brown I know I should have spoken to you in between but like I just I just needed something else and let me tell you what a tonic for the soul what a what a outstanding but no it's not that it's outstanding but I'm reading it and I'm like thank fuck I'm reading something that isn't king of crows I'm reading something that isn't king of crows I am reading something that isn't king of crows it makes me so happy so in this we're following the last brown sister Eve who is kind of like you know she's like the baby of the family she's been babied she doesn't really have a career she doesn't have a job she just like uses the trust fund floats about but she has to get a job and she stumbles across this B&B and it's like cold distant owner Jacob like it's enemies to lovers it's grump sunshine grump sunshine grump sunshine can I just tell you grump sunshine we all know from the love hypothesis apparently I think every romance I need to read needs to be grump sunshine I don't think I'm gonna like it if it's not grump sunshine like apparently that is my shit I don't know why I don't know why but apparently something about it something about it guess me I'm on page 200 like I've read mostly the audiobook I've really been enjoying the audiobook and I've really been enjoying their relationship it's like obviously it's romance it's not a spoiler that well nothing's happened yet they're kind of just they both fancy each other but I love that kind of slip from finding each other annoying to really liking each other and falling for each other and the other one doesn't know and they think they don't really like each other they're like are we friends like are we even friends like do we like each other like oh it's so cute tiny hip hip can write a good romance I will say there's something about the narration style that I feel like I've stumbled across that like is not my favorite like it's a bit like oh I'm funny I don't know if that makes sense I don't know it's something that was always niggled me throughout the whole series and I don't really know how to put it into words but it's like something to do with the third person narration style with the style of writing don't necessarily mesh for me like it's almost like it wants to be first person the way that it's got the humor in the story but let me tell you I don't give a fuck I'm reading this so fast you can't stop me I'm back bitches I'm fucking back I'm never gonna be stopped reading ever again I am absolutely loving the experience of reading it is it like the best book in the world now it's probably gonna be a four star but I'm gonna be really happy that I've finished off this series so I'm gonna finish this fucking vlog that's been going on for a month today it's ending today it's ending I've had enough I am gonna go do some housework and things and I'm gonna listen to the audiobook of this and I will probably come back to this evening late this afternoon having finished it with my final thoughts okay so I've finished Act 3D Frown I have finished three series in this video I'm so happy so yeah I enjoyed this it's a romance it was like here's the thing this book was not surprising to me anyway because having read the previous two Brown sisters romances like I knew what I was getting you know what I mean I knew what I was setting myself up for so it wasn't surprising in any way what is this I don't really have any like groundbreaking thoughts on it because it was like yeah that was what I expected but I really liked the romance I thought they were very sweet and wholesome together and grump sunshine it does something to me I don't know why at this point trix the dolls are the dolls I really really love it I love how they brought out the best in each other and there was so much conversation about like discovering different parts of you and loving those parts of you with so much care and gentleness and their relationship was just really really lovely and it was hot and it was great and it was wonderful whatever like you know it's a romance I will say as I read romance after romance you know I'm not a fan of the third act conflict I know I know this is an ongoing discussion within romance communities and whatever and I know like some people are like oh romances need a third act conflict you know they need something to go wrong or at the end but I don't know if that's true I just find it predictable and I don't I'm not a fan of it I rather the romance takes longer to come to fruition and has a few stumbling blocks along the way than have this kind of shoehorned-in third act conflict because to me I was like you guys you wouldn't this wouldn't be happening like we'd gotten to our point in our communication and like understanding each other but this just would not be happening and I just don't feel like it's needed so that aspect of it I was like you know do we need this but I'm still gonna give it four stars like I still really enjoyed it I would say I've enjoyed all three of the brown sisters books pretty much similar amounts like I think I gave them all four stars maybe I gave Danny Brown 3.5 I think I gave Danny Brown 3.5 but both this and Chloe Brown 4 and you know tell you a bit it's just a like probably one of the only romance authors along with Ali Hazelwood that I'm gonna pick up every time they put something out like without fail I'll always pick up her books so it was a success and listen we finished another series so that's the end of this vlog I hope you enjoyed it and we finished three series we're on our way now it only took me the whole month apologies that there hasn't been that many vlogs in January we're now in February I know don't worry but um yeah apologies I wasn't that many vlogs in January it was just a bit of a strange month but I'm already feeling like better and like more like myself so there'll be a lot of vlogs coming in February hopefully I feel like I'm on the reading train again um but if you've gone to the end of this video comment a musical note emoji because Eve loves music comment that down but if you've gone to the end of this video let me know what book series also you want to feature in this vlog series so what ones you want to have their own vlog um I already have the first two planned because I have all the books for them so I know what the first two will be but other than that I haven't planned it out if you kind of know what series I'm in the middle of you can let me know down below which of those you're on a whole vlog for thank you so so much for watching I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your support as always and I'll see you very soon in another video bye


Perfect, I think we can start. So good morning, good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. This public webinar is organized by the EORM Knowledge Management Hub, the Hub on Return Migration and Sustainable Integration. And this session is part of the set of webinars aiming to present specific reintegration practices and encourage experience sharing. So let me share with you some technical indication about this webinar. The most important simultaneous interpretation is available in English and French. So you can click the logo in the black bar at the bottom of your Zoom page to select the preferred language channel to follow the event. If you have any technical problem, please contact us at the email address you find on the screen. Please feel free to ask your question through the chat. They will be collected and addressed during the QA session after the speaker's presentation. As a last point, this webinar will be recorded and made available in the Return and Reintegration platform. So this webinar today marks the two years of public events organized by the Knowledge Management Hub. The first webinar in July 2020 was indeed a presentation on the first phase of the FOROS project. So we are very happy to discuss with you all today about what we called the FOROS approach and the lessons from the project. Implemented in two phases between September 2017 and April 2022, the FOROS project is part of a regional program funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its objective is to improve the socio-economic reintegration of migrants enrolled in the Aviator Program in their countries of origin through pre-departure capacity building activities, including training and counseling session. So before we dive into the initiative, I quickly introduce myself. My name is Francesco and I'm pleased to welcome you today to this webinar. I work as Knowledge Management Officer at the Knowledge Management Hub, funded by the European Union and implemented by IUM through its Protection Division. So we are very pleased to bring together today different voices and experiences from the implementation of the FOROS initiative. We will have Mada Moushani from the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jorge Dominguez de los Cura from IUM Morocco. We will share with us some remarks about what FOROS is, its impact and lessons. So thanks for being here with us. Following their interventions, Mada Maria from the Assecute Association will share with us key lessons of the pre-departure training implementation. Right after, we will be glad to hear from Mada Dansoco from Mali and Mr. Mamadou Dian from Genia that will tell us about their experience as the returnees benefiting from the FOROS support. After this intervention with the help of Yusra Benani from IUM Morocco, we will move to the interactive session where we will ask panelists to address the questions that you will kindly share with us during this webinar. So we can now start our conversation and I'm very glad to give the floor to Mada Moushani from the department in charge of Moroccan Residing Abroad of the Ministry on Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad. Mada Moushani leads and participates in the development of projects for the economic integration of migrants and refugees in Morocco and she ensures the coordination of the mechanism for the assisted voluntary return and reintegration of migrants in their countries of origin. Please Mada Moushani, the floor is yours. Hello everyone, thank you for giving me the floor and giving me the possibility to be with you today in this important webinar. Indeed, the idea today is to share with everybody participating to this webinar some of the key lessons of the FOROS project. I'd like first to thank IOM for the support which is much appreciated and I think you have contributed heavily to the implementation of the migration policies here in Morocco for almost eight years now. I'd like also to thank everyone of the various contributors and participants who have helped Morocco in establishing and developing its policy. In 2013, Morocco decided to adopt a new policy in the field of migration based on the need, in our opinion, to have a humanist approach. In doing so, we have carried out two massive regularization processes for many migrants. We've also developed a series of reintegration projects within the Moroccan society for migrants living here locally with the contribution and participation of many actors. And then based on that same approach and in order to ensure a better management of migration flows here in full respect of human rights, because this is, of course, an important dimension of this migration policy. So we want in Morocco and we did, together with the support of IOM, we managed to establish a voluntary return and reintegration program. Again, this is based on respecting the rights of migrant people. This is carried out with the support of the countries of origin and with actors of civil society. I must also mention the fact that we need to understand that any reintegration process must be envisaged as a global process and as a process that must allow those who want to go back home, must give them the ability to do that and also to reintegrate themselves into society in full respect of their rights. So voluntary return is not only something that is important for the migrants whose ability to stay has been denied, but it is also something that helps the person to settle back in their country of origin without trying again to migrate abroad and falling maybe into the hands of irregular migration processes. So we think that what has been done here is quite interesting. This approach works. It works because first and foremost, it has allowed us to make migrants aware of the real possibilities that exist for them to reintegrate into their home society. And we've of course worked with countries of origin to ensure that this is actually the case. Second, it has helped candidates, people who want to go back to have access to training and qualification processes, courses to increase their knowledge. We've also added to that another layer which is our ability to support people from, I would say, from distance-based operations, if you want, so we can help people here, but also when they're away. We've also have collected, I think, quite a lot of testimonies of migrants who have returned home and have successfully become integrated in their society. And also, as I said earlier, the support that we provide is something that is important. And we continue supporting them or ensuring they have the right support to successfully develop their project. All of this would be impossible without the involvement of the countries of origin and also NGO and civil society organizations. Also, I must insist on the fact that, although this works, it can still be improved and it should be improved further. We believe that we need maybe to work further on psychological support. People receive pre-departure training, but maybe psychological support there is needed. That's one thing we should do. Second, we need institutions in the countries of origin to be fully on board, but also maybe the private actors in the countries of origin, countries of return, should be more involved. That would be a second important focus for the future. What is also quite central we think is that we train people before they go home. We must ensure that there is good coordination between the training given before they depart back home and then what happens once they have arrived in the country of origin. That would be a third point. A fourth point would be the need to better coordinate the whole process. That is what happens before and after departure. And I will stop there for this first comment. Thank you for your attention. Merci beaucoup. Thank you so much, Madame Moushani. Thank you for your words, for setting the frame of this conversation. I'm now very glad to give the floor to Orge. Orge is the head of the assisted volunteer integration unit at IEM Morocco. Please, Orge, the floor is yours. Thank you very much, Francesco. Good morning and thanks all for attending this webinar. A special thank you also for the Knowledge Management Hub for sharing and holding this second webinar on this innovative action that we call the FORAS approach based on the name of the project, the project for us, Enhancing Reintegration Opportunities that has been implemented in Morocco between September 2017 to April 2022 with the generous funding of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was implemented first in an initial phase through a national program and in a second stage as part of a larger regional AVRR program involving also Algeria and Egypt IEM missions. So the FORAS approach and FORAS means Opportunities in Arabic is a project that aims at delivering a comprehensive pre-departure training package, counseling and orientation sessions to migrants that are registered to the AVRR program here in Morocco that will effectively prepare them for the sustainable economic, social, psychosocial reintegration once they are back in their countries of origin. It has been targeting eight specific countries, like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Togo as the most representative for French-speaking nationalities that are registered to the AVRR program here in Morocco. But I will be presented today to the two main pillars of this approach. The first pillar allowed to enrich IOM's AVRR program in Morocco by equipping beneficiaries with knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation to plan for their sustainable reintegration through a set of pre-departure trainings and counseling sessions on reintegration opportunities in countries of origin. The second pillar contributed to the cooperation and the coordination between sending and receiving IOM missions in terms of procedures, continuity of assistance and monitoring of cases, but also to foster dialogue and self-cooperation among these states on return and reintegration. So on the first pillar, I will be highlighting how important it has been to work on preparing well in advance, psychologically, personally, technically, those stranded migrants from the day they registered to the AVRR and allow them to gain some technical tools and skills that can immediately be used upon the return. The main pre-departure activities include orientation and counseling sessions to provide AVRR beneficiaries with accurate and up-to-date information about opportunities, but also challenges associated with the reintegration process and the reintegration assistance that is gonna be available in the eight target countries of origin. More than 4,500 participants have attended those orientation and counseling sessions that have been complemented, as you can see here, with other available information resources that are both online or offline, like in paper, such as country info sheets that contain reintegration opportunities, useful contacts. Also, we have developed more than 40 videos that are available in YouTube and are aiming at informing beneficiaries about the reintegration process, both in Morocco and in countries of origin and enhance their psychosocial preparation before the return. They contain testimonies from beneficiaries, both in Morocco and in countries of origin, testimonies from IOM staff in both sites, and all those resources are also available on the project website, www.foras.mr. And of course, and I will come back later to this, all this content has been developed with the support of our focal points in the countries of origin, IOM focal points. The second leg of this pillar would be the virtual counseling sessions. These came into the project in the second phase and they are basically counseling sessions between foras beneficiaries in Morocco and IOM reintegration officers in the countries of origin, mainly in Mali, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. They are organized or they have been organized every two weeks and they help to share reliable and up-to-date information and advice adjusted to their local realities and IOM's reintegration approach. They also allowed to build trust between beneficiaries and IOM officers and staff in countries of origin. More than 300 participants have joined those virtual counseling sessions during the last year and they have been able to ask direct questions to the teams that are going to support them implementing their reintegration assistance and be able to listen to the testimonies of the returners that have already started their reintegration assistance project in countries of origin. Finally, the third leg would be a set of short pre-departure trainings to strengthen AVR beneficiaries' technical and motivational skills. We have now available two different trainings, one on personal development, life and soft skills and another training on basic skills in business, creation and management and cool entrepreneurship and commercialization. I will not go into many details as our partner as Secute will go in-deep and to explain the content of these trainings, but more than 1,400 beneficiaries have attended those trainings that allowed them to regain confidence, self-esteem and to make the most out of the support of the families, friends and community before they return to get ready for that, but also to achieve self-sufficiency in the country of origin to become active subject of their future reintegration. They have been able to develop beneficiaries' personal, social and self-management skills to succeed upon their professional lives upon their return and learn the basics of the design and implementation of businesses, including conducted market study, prospecting clients, basic accounting and good practices for the success of an entrepreneurial project. We have also included some basic CV writing techniques as an alternative to self-employment. And finally on here, we have also and to ensure the sustainability of the approach, we have developed a capitalization manual on forest achievements and lessons learned from the last year as well as the years, sorry, as well as to training manuals for trainers or other partners that would like to replicate the content of the trainings on personal development and entrepreneurship and commercialization. We have also developed a set of videos on entrepreneurial ideas, like for example, how to have an entrepreneurial idea that is profitable, how to fix a price, how to deal with clients, and those videos will be shared on the KMH platform. They are available on YouTube and we encourage you to use them in your regions. According to the different evaluations and the testimony of the returners, Julia, next slide, please. Thank you. Between expectations, courage, frustration, hope, beneficiaries recognize the usefulness of what they have learned in Morocco in the framework of FORAS, even if the reintegration assistance takes time to arrive to be implemented. The testimony of the beneficiaries are proof of the usefulness of the FORAS approach that help them restore their dignity, give them tools to help them at least a little and without obviously trying to fix all the potential issues once they are back home with family, with their friends in their communities. On the surveys that we did after beneficiaries have participated to the trainings and are returned in the country of origin, 78% of them declared the usefulness of the training to get ready, to get back to their families and to their communities, useful to boost the motivation and their psychosocial reintegration. And 71% of them declared the usefulness of the training to start an economic reintegration project. On the second pillar, on coordination with IOM missions and states, I will highlight as a lesson learned that coordination with missions is crucial. Therefore, IOM, we have some focal points that were selected in the eight target countries of origin to allow for intensive coordination with IOM missions. Their basic role was to define and update the content of the trainings, but also to define and provide updated information to be included in those information and awareness-raising materials that were developed on reintegration challenges and opportunities. And maybe the most important thing is that they act like ambassadors of the project. They participated to the coordination meetings, to they ensured the eminence of forest beneficiaries among their return. During the second phase and to build on this coordination, we developed a specific SOPs that were created outlining the coordination structure between sending and receiving countries. And we call them like a specific and complementary SOPs to the existing return and reintegration SOPs as since the beginning, it was clear that the forest beneficiaries, attending those trainings in Morocco should be treated as the rest of the returners once they are back in the countries of origin and within implementation of their reintegration project. For us has also contributed to foster international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and dialogue among governmental and non-governmental representatives and civil society from Morocco and from the eight target countries of origin working on voluntary return, reintegration and employability. We organized two exchange visits between governmental and non-governmental actors involved in the AVR program from Morocco, one to Guinea and one to Cote d'Ivoire to strengthen cooperation, promote exchange of experience on voluntary return and reintegration and to analyze the reintegration opportunities that were existing in the countries of origin that we could inform here in Morocco. These allowed to adapt the content of the trainings as well as to explore synergies to coordinate, follow up the professional orientation sessions that were initiated here in Morocco to ensure continuity. Moreover, the project also allowed for the organization of an international seminar in Morocco back in September 2019 with IOM partners, the main governmental partners in target countries of origin to exchange practices, identify recommendations to improve the impact of professional orientations on the reintegration of beneficiaries and ensure that pre-departured activities in Morocco have a continuity in countries of origin to enhance the success and the long-term impact of voluntary return and sustainable reintegration. Finally, it has also contributed to the elaboration of one mapping of key stakeholders that provide services related to reintegration of returners in Togo and has also support the delivery of two trainings to governmental representatives, CSO and IOM staff in Togo and DRC on AVR and IOMs integrated approach to reintegration. The aim was to increase the capacity of IOM and its partners in those two countries that could not benefit from the capacity-building opportunities that were available under the IOM joint initiative. So to quickly conclude, I think we believe that this approach has shown that it has an added value for migrants as it complements the existing national AVR program here in Morocco, but has also proved to have a high acceptance and interest of the Moroccan government as it is in line with the Air Force deployed by AVR Morocco to support Moroccan national strategy and priorities on migration management, as was mentioned by Madame Oshani, and for sure collaboration with the Moroccan government and the major Moroccan stakeholders working on vocational training and CSO, such as ASTQD, has proved essential and will continue to be the core of the implementation of potential future phases as it allows to strengthen the impact of the action and to ensure sustainability of the initiative in the future. I'll stop here hoping that all is clear and be available to answer later any questions you may have. I will pass now the floor to Cedric and Hafidam, our partner in Morocco, in charge of implementing the pre-departure trainings to share some of the details and lessons learned. Thank you. Thank you so much, Orge. Thank you for giving us this insight about the project. I would like to allow just two brief takeaways from these interventions. Of course, the fact that the pre-departure planning is a key instrument to reinforce the reintegration process considering that it builds trust, it provides a realistic overview of opportunities and challenges, and also it helps to manage returnees' expectations. And on the other side, also, I would like to allow the powerful role of the effective cooperation and engagement among different stakeholders as also highlighted by Mada Moushani. So, we move now to... We go even deeper in analyzing the forest approach with the implementation of the pre-departure training package. We will hear more about this by a secret association that was indeed implementing the activities. Mada Moryad has an extensive experience in associative work in Morocco for over 10 years. She has the position of coordinator of the forest project within the association, within an implementation consortium in partnership with Ayam Morocco. So, over to you, Afida. The floor is yours. Bonjour. Hello. Good morning, everybody. It's a pleasure for me to be part of this webinar. The connection is really bad. I'm sorry. I will try to do as much as I can. So, I would like to thank the IOM and other partners for this partnership we've had for the last three years that has been really, really interesting for us. I will try then to sum up what has been done so far within our training workshops. So, once the person is registered to the IOM, and once the awareness training has been done, the beneficiaries start the training we've mentioned that is organized by several persons, the association, and other studies that are feeding with the training with information. We also have the Sub-Saharan Committee in Morocco that ensure the logistic is in place for the training. So, this training is organized in Casablanca and in Haban, mostly, and has been conceived for the migrants that have been or the returners that are the migrants that are registered to this voluntary return program. Most of them have experienced traumas and have been facing huge challenges during their trajectory from Morocco to the contravirgin and the way back. So, they need a psychological support, really. And they also need to learn technical skills that are required to conceive or to manage a project on a long-term basis once they're back in their contravirgin. The training modules have all been conceived in the same manner. So, they last each of them 10 days. So, the personal development module for a start, that shows us that migrants are facing challenges to make decisions or to make choices in their lives. So, the information or this training, sorry, in personal development helped them to uphold with these challenges through experiences, stimulation and tools that will help them, definitely, to better understand their skills and to reinforce their own skills as well as their capacities and use their potential to face all the challenges that they are being confronted with. So, this first module is divided in two parts, life skills and soft skills. So, for life skills, we're talking about life abilities, to have trust in one's selves, trust in one's capacities, the values, how they influence their behaviors, as well as identifying their skills. And we also work on the self-esteem, of course. We help them also to manage their emotions and to make decisions and find solutions when they are facing problems. And we also help them to communicate their idea. It can be in their surroundings or in particular situations. In the second part, the soft skills part, in this first module, we're talking about personal competencies or skills to enhance self-confidence, to define objectives, how to acquire skills that could feed their needs, how we can interpret the body language and how to express your wishes and how to express what objectives you want to attain. There are also social skills to reinforce their trust in their surroundings, in their security, and improve the way they plan or they manage, let's say, their emotions and their life within their communities. We also teach them self-management skills. Again, we're working on emotion management, how they communicate within the groups and also how they can use resources to face challenges and to plan future projects. So here, as it's been said already, we can insist on their employability skills, how they can write up a resume, how they can perform a recruitment interview, how they can find a job, basically how they can reintegrate it in the labour market. And lastly, the soft skills, we're also teaching them self-evaluation skills. The idea here is to identify their own personal skills. Now, the second module, entrepreneurship and commercialization, it helps the beneficiaries to capitalise on their own experiences, how they can understand how entrepreneurship can generate revenue for them. During this training, they learn the basics of the business plan, how to do project management, marketing, commercialisation, as it's been said, and a better comprehension of accounting and financial management. The content of this module is based on three pillars, first entrepreneurship initiation. This is the first topic that we are teaching within this module. It's a way to prove that beneficiaries do have the required skills that could enable them through simplified techniques to develop projects and maybe implement projects, how to commercialise products and services. That would be the second pillar in the module. And finally, how to offer products and services on a virtual or real market to get the basic knowledge of marketing and competencies. The third pillar, finance and accounting. And that helped them to understand the basics of finance management, capital interests, as well as stakeholders. So these are the objectives at the end of the 10 days of training. The idea is to be able to create a business plan. Why not to deliver some accounting exercises? To make sure that these workshops are working well, we had to take into account the needs of these beneficiaries so that they can really attend the workshops and they can get involved in the training course. Therefore, there's a logistics required to accompany these workshops. So daily meals for each beneficiary each day. We need to reimburse the travel expenses for each training day. We also give them two vouchers of 100 dirhams for this training. And housing is also available for the most vulnerable. In Rabah and in Casablanca, for instance, there are two apartments, flats available for the 10 days of the training. So that was it for the logistics. Next slide, please. Here you see the heterogeneity of beneficiaries. So among the different challenges that we faced, well, one of them is how heterogeneous all the beneficiaries are. So there were all coming from different nationalities, speaking different languages, some French speaking, English speaking as well as other languages, speakers. We also had different level of instructions, level of vulnerabilities that were also different. Some were victim from human trafficking, others were living on the streets. So you see we needed to face all that. There were also women that had their small children with them. So the mother didn't know what to do with them. So they brought them to the training courses. These were the challenges that we faced and the trainers or the people on board were making a lot of effort to help these mothers so they could attend the training. So we needed to find adequate solutions to face all that. We needed to have a pedagogy that could be adopted to each beneficiary. The trainers, we chosen, have been a really, really creative facing how these workshops were being implemented and facing the heterogeneity of beneficiaries. So everybody could really get something from them. We needed to facilitate the content sometimes. We need to explain the content through exercises with games as well so that they could really acquire the knowledge we wanted them to acquire. We needed to build the session each day based on the participants' needs. However, most of them have shared that this was a really interesting experience for them on which they could capitalize. There was a technique implemented in order to help the beneficiaries to elect a member among themselves that had maybe a higher level of instruction so that they could monitor the rest of them. There were also advisors appointed and some beneficiaries who spoke different languages were doing the interpretation for those who could not understand, especially for those who were speaking dialect from their own countries. So the good practices from that would be from this training are the following. So the program as such is a good practice. It's something innovative in Morocco. It helps the returnees to return by preserving their dignity. It enables them to get more empowered and therefore to take their future into their hands in their country of origin and to make sure their integration is efficient. The training sessions were also exchanged for a forum between the participants. They could exchange about their experiences, their good practices. We saw that having several parties executing the same program were reinforcing the implementation of the program as such and which was delivering more outcomes than expected. So there have been two phases for the forums. As I said, we've been doing some modifications during the second phase. We've changed the training duration. It has been extended so that we had two more days. And we combined the life skill and the soft skill within the same module to make sure that the knowledge was acquired as we wanted to. The adaptation happened within the training class. We saw that the trainers were really creative in adapting themselves when they faced difficulties and they realized what the beneficiaries needed to be fed or to be covered. As I said, the vouchers have really been positive for the attendees. It was easier to give them vouchers instead of giving them food or hygiene kits. And to conclude, I would like to insist on the expert role who was in charge with the equation or consistency of the program during all the duration of the project. So she's been really in touch with the trainers to understand the quality of the training and to make sure that they were as beneficial as possible for the migrants. So that's the end of my presentation. Thank you very much for your attention. And I'm here for any kind of question for showing us how this was crucial to reinforce the motivation and capacities of returnees also to share some good practices from the implementation of the training. So now we are very happy to hear from those who have actually benefited from the forest support. And I'm very glad to introduce to you Mrs. Aminata Dansoco from Mali that will kindly join the IUM premises today to talk with us. So over to you, Aminata. And thanks for sharing your intervention. Good morning, everybody. My name is Dansoco Aminata. Please address this. I'm working as a representative of the address service in the food industry. It's a pleasure for me to be with you. It's the first time and it's also a new experience for me, of course. I have been the beneficiary of the forest project. It hasn't been really easy at first to make the decision to take part. But thanks to a friend, I've been convinced to register and to integrate the forest project. And it has been really, really beneficial for me. The training has converted me into a courageous, ambitious person which has brought me to create my own project and to implement it. The training we got within the forest project was well prepared. I got housing, food, the expenses, travel expenses were covered. I've been really warmly welcomed. Before the training, I was desperate. It was really hard for me to come back to my own country. The objective was Bamako, Morocco and France. I thought that in Morocco I would then move on to France. But it was the opposite, the savings I had been given to the person who was supposed to make me travel by sea to France. But it was not the case. And I was totally desperate and a friend from Senegal has helped me. I put me in touch with the forest. So I've been supported. I received a training and it was the commercialization and entrepreneurship module. I did. And during this training, I really have been accompanied and helped, supported. I was motivated and I must have been really happy during these 10 days. The teachers and the trainers have been really, really nice with us. And I've been mentally, physically prepared for taking my life into my hands. So then afterwards I went back to Bamako and they've helped me financially and helped me from a logistic point of view to develop my project in the food industry. And the funds I got have enabled me to start my company. And now I have that company and I'm working full time. So it means that now I am an independent and autonomous woman. I manage well my business and I've been participating to fairs. I've been offering my products. I also attended international fairs. We stand to showcase my products and to have a direct contact with potential customers. And I could sell my products that are starting from raw materials up to finished products. There are several steps to follow. And I've been able to put them on the market. So it's true that within the entrepreneurship there are higher ups and downs. But I am bold. I always have new ideas to move on and to develop my business. And in the coming days, I really want my business to grow. I want my brand to be recognized at the national and international level. And I would be glad to have other trainings on business management and how to develop my business. I could also benefit from human resources training. So far, the first training I attended in the food industry have really helped me to move on and to develop my company. That's what I wanted to share with you. Thank you so much, Renata, for sharing your story. We really appreciate your openness and availability today. Thank you so much again. So I'm now very pleased to give the floor to Mr. Mamadou Dian. Over to you, Mamadou. The floor is yours. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Si Mamadou Dian. I'm a beneficiary of the Forest 2 project that took place in September and October 2021. And that's been financed by the IOM and coordinated by Astikud. I arrived on the 25th of November, 2021. And during my training, I've been able to acquire some skills in the entrepreneurship and personal development areas. In the personal development module, I've been able to gain self-confidence and to develop a team spirit and sharing spirit. Within the entrepreneurship module, I've been able to develop my creativity to select one project idea to make the difference between a problem and a need and also to do my daily accounting. Before I came back, I've decided to choose a sector such as general mechanics. And IOM Guinea has really afforded me to present my application towards the ministry. I'm able now to create a revenue generating activity within the transport sector. And the IOM has offered me a motorbike that enables me to attend a school I've been accepted in that is pretty far away from my house. After the morning session, I'm also working in the afternoon as a taxi driver. I've realized that most of the migrants who are back, the returnees who are back in my country, are benefiting from the transport sector. And this activity as a taxi driver helps me to cover my needs and my family's needs. The training I did in Morocco enabled me really to build up my self-confidence and to find something good to do in my country of origin because what I've seen is that the irregular migration is absolutely not a good way to follow. That's not something I would encourage. This training in Morocco has really helped me to choose reintegration and to measure my profitability. So I thank all the migrants who have had the courage to go through the IOM to return to their country and to attend the Forest 1 and Forest 2 trainings so they could come back at home in their country of origin and start businesses. And I invite all migrants to do their reintegration program before they return. Thank you for your attention. And here's Aminata for your words, for your availability again, for telling us more about the impact of forest training on your social economic reintegration. Without your voices, today's webinar will be definitely not the same. So especially in this effort of capturing lessons and practices from the project. So we have reached the last session of the webinar. We can move now to the question and answer. I'm very happy to leave the floor to Yusera Benani from IOM Morocco who will kindly moderate this interactive session. Over to you, Yusera. Thank you, Francesco. And thank you to all the participants for all the questions that we have received on the chat box. We have received some general questions related to what is for us and what is the beneficiaries and what is the means of for us. So maybe I just will give a quick introduction before to go to very specific questions for our panelists. So for us is the program who allowed the beneficiaries who are registered to do to the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Program to benefit from pre-departure preparations in order to prepare their sustainable reintegration. All these detailed information would be available on the PowerPoints, the presentation that we have done today. And for us it means in Arabic opportunities. So that's it related to the specific or general questions that we have received on the chat. And now I will maybe give the floor. I will address questions to specifically Jorge concerning. I think that we had a confusion on the chat also concerning the targeted countries related to the project. So we have received the questions that have highlighted the fact that there is eight countries targeted at the beginning of the project and they have understood that only four have said so maybe the confusion is done vis-à-vis the fact that there is eight countries of origins in general that are targeted by the project and only four countries that have participated to the reintegration counseling. And we have another question related to what are the type of profile of migrants that have been assisted under the for us. So Jorge if you could give us more detail about this question please. Yes thank you Yustram, absolutely. On the confusion on countries yes we target eight specific nationalities that are registered to the AVRR program the main nationalities, friends speaking nationalities registered to the AVRR program and when we decided to implement the virtual counseling sessions with countries of origin as it was still a pilot action we only identified four IOM countries Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire to participate in those virtual counseling sessions but Togo, DRC, Cameroon and Burkina Faso are the other four countries that also which nationalities can also attend the pre-departure training and counseling package. As per the profiles as the for us project is very closely interlinked with the AVRR program from Morocco the beneficiaries are shared and we mostly find 75% of adult men 25 women ages between 18 to 40 for the vast majority of them but we also have on a combined and separated migrant children that can attend the training sessions and the counseling sessions starting from 15 years old more or less so they can better use the content of these trainings. Any other questions? Yes, thank you. So other questions related to the follow-up so first what is the mechanism in put it in place in order to ensure the continuity and sustainability between the trainings offered in Morocco and the reintegration offered in the countries of origin and this question is also linked to another one which is the M&E the monitoring and evaluation how the monitoring and evaluation was done under this project and another one how the management team have done or experienced the pre-decision that allowed us to actually determine the beneficiaries and also how the assistance that has been provided for us has been supportive in order to enhance the safe migration. Okay, a lot of questions in there. On continuity of care and to ensure that what was provided in Morocco before the return can contribute to what IOM offices in countries of origin can implement mostly on reintegration assistance that's why the coordination with the missions was really important. First of all as IOM cannot know what are the countries going to implement so we needed them to provide us with updated information to better inform beneficiaries of what can they expect once they are back in the countries of origin. Some of the work on continuity that we have been on the going to is to ensure that for example if someone here in Morocco attends an entrepreneurial training we can ensure that the content would be enough and the same person doesn't have to attend the same training once they are back in the countries of origin as a first step to integrate or to initiate their integration assistance so this communication is ongoing and on a monthly basis we inform missions of which beneficiaries that have already returned have followed each of or the other training to ensure that there are no overlaps in there. On the M&E part and I saw some of these questions in the chat box in general we saw high satisfaction rates from beneficiaries before returning however we don't have enough quantitative data to prove that actual impact of the pre-departure trainings once they are back as you all know there are other factors that come in when it comes to reintegration and satisfaction and sustainability once they are back in countries of origin but in general the focal points in countries of origin have assessed that the beneficiaries of the FORAS project are usually better prepared and better equipped for their reintegration but of course in the absence of any quantitative data or very low quantitative data and comparative analysis this remains a general impression. IOM uses the M&E available tools the AVRM&E package monitoring tools that measure satisfaction sustainability at programmatic and individual level and what we have done is to adapt those existing tools to add a couple of questions on to try to better measure the impact of this pre-departure training so for instance if someone is returning from Morocco there would be a question like have you attended training before your return if they say yes there will be a couple of questions on the impact at social, psychosocial and economic level of these trainings. Thank you Jorge. So as you mentioned focal points we have received some questions related to the focal points. The first question is how the focal points have been designated are they part of the civil society or from which organism they are working with and the second question was related to the child protection if there is any child protection mechanism or other procedures that have been put in place during this project. Okay on the focal points part they are IOM staff mostly working on reintegration assistance and on the AVRR they are part of the AVRR teams in each mission and they are in direct contact with their governmental and civil society partners in countries of origin. I would agree with the person that asked the question of if they are part of civil society I think that would help to ensure durability of our AVRR approach and they could be more implicated on the follow-up of the returners and during their reintegration assistance but as for now and also to facilitate sharing of information between missions they are part of the AVRR IOM team. On child protection no specific measures under the FORAS program as they are already existing under the AVRR portfolio in Morocco. I think that Hafida was sharing some interesting stories about how we tried to ensure that single parents could bring their children to the trainings to be able to ensure that they can participate and single parents can access the trainings in the same way of any other beneficiary not without challenges but I think that we could overcome them and as I said some and accompanied and separated children could also attend those of training and then return as in the in the normal process to their to the countries of origin. Last question and really sorry for the other questions all the inundressed questions will be on the reintegration on the return and reintegration platform so the last question is related to the intervention of focal points during the reintegration process of the returnees under the program FORAS. That as I said depends on each and every country so I will not be able to answer on the exact work maybe if I don't know if we have the time or we could answer that on the on the platform as we have in the room some of our focal points and they could share also what is their their perspective and how they how they work but as I was saying and what we ask them since the beginning is that even if they are not directly providing reintegration assistance to FORAS beneficiaries they should act as ambassadors and inform their colleagues that there is a specific person attend that there's a specific training so let's make sure that there are no overlaps and not like to share the information that is shared in Morocco and to provide if possible a specific attention to those returnees. Thank you very much. I leave the floor to Francesco. Thank you. Thank you Yusra. Thank you. Thank you everyone for for this very interactive session for interest in the in the FORAS approach as mentioned by Yusra we will address the questions that remain unaddressed in the return and reintegration platform community as you see on the slide the conversation goes indeed online please do not hesitate to register to the communities platform the link will appear soon in the chat and join the reintegration group under which you will find the dedicated forum where you can share comments experiences with us just before leaving the session it will be great if you could take a few seconds to respond to the polls that will shortly appear on the screen and as last information let me remind you that the recording of the webinar will be shortly available on the return a reintegration platform in both English and French so we have reached the end of the session we really hope that was an informative and useful one once again many thanks to the speakers that join us today thanks also a big thanks to colleagues in Rabat and Geneva who helped on the organization and moderation please do not hesitate to contact us directly using the email address you see on the screen and on behalf of the Knowledge Management Hub thank you so much again for attending this session and I wish you a nice rest of the day goodbye thank you very much


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued permits for a planned copper nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota. The DNR said Thursday it has issued permits to polymet mining for the company's proposed North Met project. The project still requires permits from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Environmentalists contend the mine could pollute pristine waters. No project in the history of the DNR has been more thoroughly evaluated. The permit conditions are designed so that we can have confidence that the project can be built, operated, and reclaimed in compliance with Minnesota's rigorous environmental standards, which are designed to protect human health and the environment. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.


Carbon capture and storage, CCS, is a process by which carbon dioxide, CO2, a major contributor to global warming, is captured from large point sources such as power plants and industrial facilities, transported to a storage site and permanently stored deep underground. CCS is seen as one of the most promising solutions to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate climate change. Despite its potential benefits, there are several challenges associated with CCS including cost, safety and public acceptance. However, recent advances in technology have made CCS more feasible and cost effective than ever before. This article was authored by Temitope Jai, Jorge Solgado Gomez and Akinta Berra.


Alright, so I have finally, finally, finally gotten finished with Reading to Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paulini, and this is actually the first book he's written in almost ten years ever since he finished up the inheritance cycle, and I thought, it's pretty good. This is the introduction song. It's not very good, but it's not too long. Now I don't have a lot to say about the good parts of this book, unfortunately, because there's just not much to say about them. It's just like, yeah, this bit was fun. I was kind of into the story, I was kind of into the characters, and it doesn't go particularly deep.  The problems on the other hand are a little deeper. We'll get into those, especially in the spoiler section, because the weirdest part about this is, look, we'll get into that. So the setting for this book is pretty standard science fiction ferrets.  So she works on, well she's a biologist for aliens, but there aren't any sentient species of aliens that they've met so far. And one day she's digging out a site looking for some stuff, and then this alien artifact living thing, which she winds up calling the soft blade, attaches herself to her. It's like a mess of fibers, which covers her from her neck down basically, and it feels just like skin when you touch it, but sometimes it can harden itself to work as armor. It can form spikes and like stab people, and later on she figures out how to do even more stuff with it, so it's kind of cool. And then other aliens come in, start attacking humans, and then Kira has to use her newfound soft blade powers to save the day. Now when I first heard about this, I was glad that Paulini was, one, doing something science fiction, and two, doing something, well doing something that wasn't aimed at the same target audience. You know, this is more adult oriented than Aragon. There is swearing, there is some sex stuff in there, it is a little violent, and it doesn't get super super dark or mature in there, but like, yeah, it's not really aimed at kids or teens anymore, which is, you know, that's fun, I'm glad he did something different. But while I was reading, it felt a little familiar, and I couldn't quite think of what it was. At first I thought it was just the setting, because as I said, it's pretty standard, you know, nothing really stood out about it to me good or bad, although I will say that, you know, with all the stuff like faster than light travel and everything, they don't really bother explaining it in the text, it's just the characters know how it works and all that, yada yada. But there is an appendix at the end, so if you're interested you can go in and look at some of the more technical details, which I thought was a really neat compromise, so we're not getting hit with pages upon pages of exposition dumps. But as it went on, I realized that this is still pretty similar to the story of Aragon. Like, think about it, they both start off, find some source of crazy, powerful power, and then they have to go off and use it to save the day. And then there's a couple other major story beats as well, which I won't get into here, but especially near the end, I was like, yeah, this is really similar to Aragon, it's like they compressed the entire inheritance cycle into one book. And that was pretty disappointing, like a lot of the smaller details along the way are different, so it's not a complete retread, but still, if you're expecting something totally new and original, you're gonna be disappointed here. However, even those smaller bits which are more original are a little clumsy. This book, again, I liked it, but it really could have used some tightening up in the editing process, because it's a very long book, it's like over 800 pages actually, and I wouldn't say it's super way too long, like it is a little too long, I think you could cut it down by like 5% to 10%, but mostly there's too much focus on some areas and not enough focus on other areas, and I would rather you swap those around. Like for example, there's a lot of action scenes in this book, and most of them are fun, especially near the beginning and at the very end, like the climax is really good in that regard, but there's a lot in the middle which are kind of small, and they just start to feel repetitive after a while, like it's just, oh, bad guys are doing things, heroes have to fight a little bit, but mostly they gotta escape so that they can go do other stuff, and so it's just a fighting retreat basically, and I think if they had took two, maybe three of those and sort of combined them into one big scene, then it would have worked out better, and for another matter, the way that the characters are introduced in this is, well it ties into the story as well, it's just kind of clumsy, like see Kira starts off on one ship full of people, and those are people she's known for years, including her fiance and others, and then she winds up having to go to a different ship full of total strangers, and she has to learn how to get to know them over the course of this story, and the way they show that oftentimes is just, like there's one chapter in particular, which is just she goes around the ship talking to characters, and they each give her their long, in-depth back story, and it's, well, it feels off, because, like, why didn't she just keep it with her original ship and have the people she already knew pretty well, so that maybe in the narration somewhere she could put, this dude was always kind of a dick, but I knew he had a heart of gold, like something like that, you know, so it would be a little shorter, a little tighter, and I mean, if you wanted to have people, like, die or get lost or something, and Kira has to use that as a motivation to keep going, then you could still have her fiance or something die, but have everyone else survive, like this way just feels like it's taking up a little too much space. That said, the cast is generally slightly above average, you know, I liked how Kira was not really a damsel in distress, she figured out how to use her powers relatively quickly, even if she does grow and grow more over the course of the story, and she, I don't know, she comes across as a decent enough person, and then the other members of her crew, like I said, the way they give their backstories is kind of clumsy, but the actual backstories themselves are neat, and they all have at least a little bit of personality, even if they aren't, like, the most amazing characters ever, they're pretty cool. The only individual character I really connected with was this artificial intelligence named Gregorovich, who, I'm not gonna go too much into him, but he was a lot of fun because he's always just kind of unstable, and you feel like he's right on the edge of snapping and killing everybody, which is just, I don't know, like I said, it's fun, it's a little tense, but you never really feel like he's evil or anything, so it's not that bad, and for that matter, I think the aliens are kind of cool. Like, this is one of the few science fiction books I've ever read where it really goes into how alien aliens can be, like these guys communicate using mostly smell, actually, and so it's pretty much impossible for humans to talk to them at first. It takes a while before we can really find a way to translate and communicate with them and figure out what's really going on here, and the villain, while he's not particularly, I mean, I don't know, he's kind of like Galvatorex in the sense that he doesn't really have a reason for doing anything that he does, but he is a pretty powerful, intimidating villain, so it worked out all right in the end, but as I said, the aliens are really alien. They have a completely different mindset, their biology, their culture. Everything is just difficult to wrap your head around. I mean, the only thing I can think of off the top of my head that, where the aliens are even more alien than this, is in Gundam 00, where the aliens are literally just this big hive mind of living liquid metal, and it also has no concept of communication outside that hive mind, so it just goes around trying to absorb everything, like it's not even done out of malice, it's just how it operates, and yeah, it is really weird and bizarre. I think that's about it for the non-spoiler section. My overall thoughts, this book is a little bit longer than it needs to be, it's a little clumsy, but Paulini has definitely improved since he finished Inheritance Cycle, the way the prose is written and some of the descriptions, while they do occasionally go over the top, are better than they were back in the day, and overall I think if you're looking for some sort of science fiction space opera, that isn't going to be like 20 books long, and this story is self-contained. It's not part of a series as far as I know, like it is open for a sequel, but it is self-contained, so if you're looking for something like that, I think you could maybe check this out, and if you hate it, then I apologize.  So now the spoiler section, the main thing I want to get in on with this is just the very end, and how it's exactly the same as the end of Aragon. Think about it, the very end of Aragon, they defeat Galvatorex, they defeat the evil force that was going to destroy the world, and then they start the rebuilding process. Aragon has this several hundred pages, actually, of seeing how all of his friends end up, and it's usually pretty good, like Arya gets to be a queen and a dragonrider, his dwarf friend gets to be king of the dwarves, like, you know, it's basically just showing off hate. A, everything worked out amazing for us. We're the good guys, everything's great. But at the same time, circumstances are forcing Aragon to leave his home and never return. And to sleep in a sea of stars has kind of the same thing. Like, when Kira defeats the big bad, she winds up sort of becoming leader of this godlike being or hive mind type thing, and, well, she becomes a godlike being. She brings an end to the fighting and defeats the bad guy and saves, in this case, not just the world, but the whole universe, and things are great. And then it goes around having her use her new powers to make everything amazing for her friends all of a sudden, like, ones with genetic problems. Well, here's this thing, you just eat it once a day, it'll alleviate your symptoms, and stuff like that. And, again, it spends a little too long on it, and it feels just a little too, like, hey, everything, happy ending, everything's great now.  And then circumstances, again, force Kira to go off away from humanity forever, and, well, it is basically just the ending of Aragon. And here's the thing, it's not the worst ending ever. I'm actually one of the people who will defend the inheritance cycle because it showed how the evil king doing all that damage doesn't go away overnight. But, yeah, it did feel a little forced when Aragon had to leave, and in this case, it feels a little less forced that Kira has to leave, but also, it does seem, I don't know how I should put this, like, fantasy, generally speaking, is all about great men, you know, individuals who go out and do crazy things, and save the day themselves, or not completely themselves, but like, without them it wouldn't have happened. Whereas science fiction, in a lot of ways, is more about society, and movements, and how that sort of thing can change things. So, the idea that this one woman, who, again, not totally by herself, but without her it wouldn't have happened, can go off and not only destroy the bad guy, but become this benevolent, god-like being, and make everything great, just feels a little, I don't know, it feels a little too fantasy. And I know that Paulini is mostly a fan of fantasy literature, so I think that might be coloring it a little too much. It's not even that I hate fantasy, really, it's just that it feels kind of at odds with this science fiction thing, where it's more about society, and how that moves ahead, because the days of great men doing things are seemingly in the past. I don't know, maybe I'm being a little too pedantic here, but in this case it does feel a little bit worse, even though it's the same thing, and part of that is definitely just that I've seen this before, and it's retreading old ground. So that's about all. Like I said earlier, I recommend it if you're really looking for space opera sci-fi, with some fantasy elements admittedly, even if they don't really seem like fantasy elements at first, and I don't know, I think that Paulini, if he continues to improve his craft, can really be one of the greats one day. Now is the time for the verbal shout out for my $10 nut patrons, Appo Savilainen, B Quinn, Brother Santotis, Christopher Quinten, Mbis, Emily Miller, Evan Stigald, Joel, Carcat Kitsune, Madison Lewis Bennett, NB Star, Sad Martigan, Tobacco Crow, Tom Beanie, Vacuous Silas, and Vaivictus. You guys are the best, as well as all the other names here, and if you want to get stuff like early access to my videos, and you can suggest new content, you want to get your name on here, then consider donating to my Patreon. And if you either can't do that, or you just hate me and don't want to do that, then well, liking this video, commenting on it, and sharing it around, really helps to get the word out. And even if you dislike it, that also boosts it in the algorithm. So really, no matter what, I win here. Anyways, see you guys later. Bye.


America's number one adventurer K-7 form a United States secret agent who operated in 22 countries on land on sea and in the air brings you a story of today. We take you to secret agent K-7's headquarters. This is K-7 speaking, send in special agent Z for assignment. Special agent Z you reporting for duty? Agent Z, I have an unusual assignment for you. You are to accompany a certain high-ranking official on a secret mission to the far east. Adjoining cabins have been reserved aboard the Empress of the East. The separate state room has been provided for Miss Norwood. The diplomat will travel under the name of John Mason. You sail tonight. Your sole duty is to see that the official arrives safely. Here are the tickets. To me by ship to shore telephone if anything unusual occurs. Agent Z and Pat watched as passengers boarded the grade liner that was to carry them to the orient. They stood on the freight deck and watched from the shadows through a cargo door so they couldn't be seen. Sailing time approached. They'd seen nothing suspicious. Board Z, I haven't seen anyone who looks suspicious. Certainly no one is on our wanted list. No that's true Pat, but don't forget the photographs of wanted spies and our files contain few orientals. You expect an oriental? Z, what is this all about? Who is the man traveling under the name of John Mason? I didn't ask questions Pat. You mean you don't know? I haven't met him yet. I suspect that he's traveling east in connection with the landing of a large sum of money to a certain government. However, that's none of our business Pat. To us he's John Mason. Our only duty is to see that he arrives safely. They're pulling in the gangplank. Yes, it's time for us to go to our cabins. I want to meet the man I'm traveling with. Well Pat, here's where we separate. What do you mean Z? For the time being we're going to be strangers. We won't be seen together aboard ship. I'll send my instructions to you. Keep your eyes open. But Z, we watched everyone come aboard. We won't have any trouble. I'm not so sure Pat. Now let's go to our cabins. As the great ship left the harbor, the passengers prepared for their long trip. On deck a small man called for a deck chair. Stuart, bring me deck chair. Place it here by the companion way. At once, Excellency. Is he aboard? Yes, Excellency. Cabins 14 and 15. A deck. Good. Thank you. Excellency, there are two who travel with him. A man occupies cabin 14. There is also a girl. She is in A deck 21. You are sure? Yes. They watch the passengers board from the cargo deck.  That is all Stuart. Thank you. Z and the man he guarded, John Mason, dined alone in the latter's cabin. As the man who served them cleared the table and left them to bring the coffee. Agency spoke. Mr. Mason, while we're alone, there are several requests I want to make. I am in your hands, Agency. Well, for the first few days I had known to want you to go on deck alone. It has been arranged for the captain to introduce you to Miss Norwood this evening. She and I will never be seen together, but you are to be with one or the other of us whenever you are out of your cabin. If Miss Norwood is the young lady in 21, being with her will be a pleasant experience. But isn't it usually the man who protects the lady? Miss Norwood is as efficient as she is decorative, Mr. Mason. Ah, here's our coffee. Happy old gentleman. Yes. You may go now. Thank you. I don't like the way that fellow looks at me. Oh, this coffee's bitter. I don't like it. It's still a little strong. I can't drink that stuff. I'll have tea later. Agency, what are you doing over there at the drain? Oh, nothing. Our waiter failed to leave finger balls. Oh, I'm sleepy. It must be the sea air. I'm a bit tired myself. Odd. So early? Perhaps it would do us both good if we slept for an hour or so before we go on deck. Good idea. I was about to suggest it. Well, I'm going to my cabin. I'll see you in an hour or so. Call me before you dress for the evening. Yes, I will. The drug has worked. They both sleep. Good. You will stand guard here in the passengerway. If anyone comes this way, knock on the door as if you had been called. Faultlessly dressed, mingled with the other passengers in the main saloon. At his request, he was presented to Miss Norwood by the captain. The two talked at a quiet table. You travel alone, Miss Norwood? Yes. I'm all alone this trip. I'm to meet my father in Shanghai. He's been traveling in the South Sea. Sure. Well, I hope you will do me the honor of talking to me often. You travel for pleasure, Mr. Matsumoto? Yes. I have been in England and on the continent for several months. However, there is little pleasure in being alone on such a long voyage as this. I'm glad to find my fellow passengers so charm. Pardon me. I believe my steward is looking for me. I expect a message. Over here, steward. Your pardon, Miss Norwood. Of course. Excellency, there is someone in your cabin. I saw them enter. Who is it? I don't know. I only saw them back. Go below at once. Wait for me. I'll come down immediately. I made his apologies to Pat and went below. A moment later, Pat followed him. Below, he led himself into his cabin. Have your gun ready when I open the door? There's no one here. Wait. All right. Wait for me outside. Well, thanks, Excellency. I'm sure I saw someone enter. He left when you came on deck to warn me. Close the door and wait. I must see if the papers are safe. Don't attempt to move, Matsumoto. What are you doing here? I think you know. Mr. Mason drank some of your drug coffee. I poured mine down the drain. I saw you steal the papers and bring them here. I knew that if I hid behind your shower curtain, you would show me where you had them. I'll take them. Steward. Do you know good to call for help from your steward? Unless I'm mistaken, Miss Norwood already has placed him under arrest outside. Well, Pat, good, Pat. Matsumoto, this ship is under the British flag. I have the authority to place you under arrest as a spy. He swallowed something. Quick, the telephone, Pat. Send for the ship, sir. Yes. That will not be necessary. The drug I took is powerful. In my country, an officer who has fared his superior prefers death. Tension grows in the east. The spies of many great powers are matching wits. Another account of Agent Z's activities in the east will be heard soon. Listen for my next story. This is K-7 speaking.