Debunking the myth of “Paradise Switzerland” and informing African migrants about the risks of travelling to Europe is the goal of a Swiss-funded television series set in Nigeria. The images are very far from the traditional tourist campaigns featuring sun, mountains, lakes and outdoor cafés.

Living in Switzerland is not always easy – as Joshua’s story shows. The young Nigerian, denied asylum by the Swiss authorities and now living in Switzerland illegally, is the protagonist of “The Missing Steps”, a Swiss-Nigerian co-production made as part of the migration partnership signed by the two countries in 2011.

The 13-episode series has a clear aim: to deter Nigerian migrants from searching for a better future in Switzerland.

“We want to provide objective information on migration, showing that the crossing [of the Mediterranean] is dangerous and that the chances of Nigerians being granted asylum are low. We also intend to explain that life for illegal immigrants in Switzerland is not easy,” said Lukas Rieder, spokesman for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), which funded the entire CHF450,000 ($445,500) series budget.

It is not the first time that the SEM has embarked on a such a project. In 2007, it funded atwo-minute advert shown in several African countries such as Cameroon and Nigeria. The message? “Don’t believe everything you are told.”

The clip drew criticism because it showed Switzerland “in a bad light”. In 2013, it was Kosovo’s turn, with videos targeting young people posted on YouTube.

Switzerland is not the only country to fund campaigns like this. Germany, Italy and Australia have also produced videos with aggressive messages aimed at migrants.

MORE:   http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/migrant-information_-don-t-come-to-switzerland—-the-anti-tourism-campaign/42977486