Former Moroccan Child Migrants in Spain Seek Jobs to Support Families Back Home

"If I work, I can send five or six euros to my family. Even if it’s little, they need it more than me," Salahdin El Ayoubi, a former minor now 21 years old, told Heraldo. He had left Morocco at the age of 14 and upon arrival in Spain, was placed in a center for minors where he stayed until the age of 18. He had fled the difficult living conditions in the kingdom to build a better future in Spain.

Like him, Abdelghani El Hand, 21, from Nador, has only one goal: to have a job and integrate into society to offer a better life to his family. Passionate about sports, El Hand left Morocco to become a professional footballer. A dream that was shattered upon his arrival in Spain and he found himself in a center for minors.

To read: Moroccan Youth Find Success and Opportunity in Spain, Defying Migration Challenges

Since the end of last year, the Spanish government has implemented a reform of the immigration regulations, facilitating the obtaining of residence and work permits for these minors who are called upon to leave the minors’ centers at the age of majority and to integrate into working life. These work and residence permits have a duration of two years and can be renewed if the application is made one year before the expiry date.

"It’s a lot of pressure for these young people" who are trying to help their families and build a better future in Spain, explains Málaga Acoge, which takes care of them and trains them in hospitality, tourism, catering, mechanics, etc., until they reach the age of majority. They must first overcome the first obstacle, the language, and then face the difficulties in finding work because they generally do not have university degrees.