Moroccan Immigrant’s Journey: From Law Dreams to Community Service in France

Amina Gassori was only 16 years old when she left Marrakech with her mother to join her father in France, more precisely in Dole in the Mesnils-Pasteur neighborhood. "My father came to France to work, he chose Dole to do his paperwork. My mother wanted to join him, so we left." The young girl had difficulty adapting to the change, finding herself in another country, far from her dreams and her culture. "At first, I didn’t accept being here. I had my studies, my bearings. I wanted to become a lawyer," Le Progrès reports.

Consumed by the thirst to return to Morocco, she was unable to progress and even abandoned her health and social studies at Pasteur. But supported by the Maison de Jeunes et de la Culture (MJC) in Dole, she was able to pass her Brevet d’Aptitude aux Fonctions d’Animateur (BAFA), and began working as an activity leader "with the children in the neighborhood" and obtained her diploma in Morbier. "Then I got married. And for the first time, I went back to Morocco with my husband, in 1986."

Her marriage gave birth to five children, a boy and four girls. But her life took a second turn. "My husband fell ill. I wrote a letter to work and was summoned to the Ehpad des Aberjoux." Before being hired as a weekly social worker, she had to answer questions she finds rather embarrassing. After a year and facing difficulties, she decided to take the nursing assistant exam and scored 19/20, first on her list. "It wasn’t my dream, but I was happy to have something."

Even though times are tough, her door remains open to everyone. She enjoys welcoming Moroccans, but also Algerians and anyone who wants to share a piece of cake and tea. She is delighted with the progress observed in neighborhood relations. "At the time, the communities did not mix. The girls were not allowed to go out. The evolution of the neighborhood, its openness to the city is on the right track." At her place, the comings and goings are daily. "You are welcome, anytime," she says.

Today, at the age of 58, Amina still works at the Pasteur hospital, far from her dream of becoming a lawyer in Morocco. She continues to devote herself to the activities of her neighborhood and enjoys it immensely. "I used to give Arabic language lessons. Today, I am part of the board of the neighborhood management company, I am vice-president of the board of directors and a member of the citizens’ council."