The Rural Exodus We are here in the village of Notto, where we are going to the meeting of young people working in the city. If we leave the village for the city, it is because here there is no work. The only activity here, it is agriculture. There is no factory, no activity which enables us get ahead. So we go to town to seek work. But if we had work here, we would stay here. When I arrived here, just a few young people had left. Perhaps agriculture was going well, the winter rains were good. People had a way to subsist, allowing them to live rather decently. So they did not see the need to do other professions in the city. Here, there were many advantages, so much so that no young people thought of migrating. And for that reason, it's only recently that we began thinking of a profession to leave. Those who ended their studies remained here, in family. That was good. But when the situation changed, it was necessary to take provisions. It was then a question of leaving and working hard, and of compensating our parents who couldn't keep up with the family's needs. We leave because there is nothing here any more. If there were the minimum here one would not leave to Dakar. But one is obliged to migrate towards Dakar because we are young people, we have a trade, it is necessary for us to work. We cannot stay here with our arms crossed. If it were up to me, I would earn my living without having to leave my family. But it is for want of anything better that I and the others have left to try our luck in other places. The fact that our husbands "abandon" us has advantages and disadvantages. That they leave and send us something to live on and that is very good. But for some, there are no advantages, it would be better for their husband to remain with them. Our men leave to make a living for the family, not to have fun. It is our job, as wives, to understand that. It is hard everywhere, even in town. The biggest problem, is housing. The rents are high, the cost of living too. It is really hard. It is what blocks many qualified young people, from being able to work. There are many who are ready to return, but they do not have the means to do it and to come and establish themselves here. If there were electricity here, many young people, tailors, metalworkers and others, would return to the village. The young people do not leave just for pleasure, they do not have a choice. When one does not have what one wants, one is satisfied with what one has. Filmed by- Lamine, Oumy F Oumou Directed by- Pathé, Aida