Spain: the incredible destiny of a young Moroccan who went from a patera to the royal palace

Idir Tiguit landed on the island of Lanzarote on October 14, 2023, after an eight-hour crossing from the Saharan coast. At just 16 years old, this native of Essaouira was traveling with 54 other migrants on board a makeshift boat. This journey marked the beginning of a new life for him, as he wished to help his family back home.

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Taken care of by the Red Cross, he stayed in three different youth centers across the island. Despite sometimes complex living conditions, the young man showed a willingness to integrate through education. "I kept saying I wanted to study," he confides to La Provincia.

His determination opened the doors of the Lanzarote Chamber of Commerce. After learning Spanish, he joined a specialized training program and even served as a translator to accompany other exiles. Today, the youngest of a family of nine children has found his place in the world of work as a waiter in a hotel in Playa Blanca.

On April 8th, his rise was celebrated in Madrid during the tenth anniversary of the "Talento Joven" program. Present for the event, Queen Letizia personally exchanged with him. Impressed by his resilience, the Queen encouraged him to "move forward", assuring that his efforts would take him far in realizing his projects.

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Now perfectly integrated, Idir Tiguit is already looking further ahead. While he thrives in his current position, he aims to start his own business in the aluminum sector, a trade he already practiced in Morocco. "Life is not easy. We have to work very hard to get what we want," he concludes with lucidity.

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