Moroccan Students in France Face Financial Hardship Amid COVID-19 Crisis

An 18-year-old Moroccan law student went to the Jean Sarrailh center of the Crous, in the 5th arrondissement of Paris at the end of August, hoping to talk to the social worker. She had requested one-off assistance to cope with the financial difficulties accentuated by the health and economic crisis, reports Libération.

"Until now, my father who lives in Morocco was financing my studies. He owns a business that has experienced major difficulties. He stopped sending me money. I had to lose 200 euros from my monthly budget," she says. Faced with the situation, she is applying for a consumer loan of 1,000 euros. At the same time, she has taken out loans from her relatives.

"I’m 600 euros overdrawn when I have an authorized overdraft of 400. My father is also in debt in Morocco. I regret that the social services are not understanding. She gives me big blank smiles while I’m talking about my precariousness," she confides. The young student is not discouraged, however. She says she prefers "to suffer and continue her studies at the Sorbonne" rather than return to her parents in Morocco.