Tajikistan has the youngest and fastest growing population in Central Asia, with roughly 30% of its population under 15 years of age. Couple this with Tajikistan's high rates of migration - 44% of households in Tajikistan have a labour migrant working abroad - this has a bit impact on the family unit, with many children in Tajikistan growing up with one or more parents working abroad. In being left behind, children from migrant sending families can struggle with the psycho-social effects of being separated from a parent, may drop out of school early to work, may be unable to access services, and may experience discrimination among other impacts.

To underline the importance of children in migration, IOM Tajikistan opened its doors to children to celebrate International Children’s Day on 01 June. During the event, parents working in IOM showed their children around the workplace, explained their jobs, and discussed together the impact of migration on children. The children also engaged in various activities, including entertainment, master classes, and a quiz related to migration.  By involving children in discussions about migration, the event highlighted the difficulties Tajik children can face when their family members are abroad, but also discussed the role of children in shaping a more welcoming and supportive community for families arriving in Tajikistan.

"Although we sometimes asked Dad about his work and the organization he works for, and knew a little about what they do, it was very interesting to visit his office and see what it looks like in real life. Thank you to the organizers for such a great event! We had an amazing time in the office where our dad works, and it was nice to see that he is part of an organization that helps people (migrants) find jobs."