Male, 17 years old and from sub-Saharan Africa

The Cabildo’s Childhood and Family Unit issues a pioneering report, based on a survey of 113 of them, to learn about the reality of minors arriving irregularly.

Male, 17 years old, from the countries of the sub-Saharan Sahel, in West Africa, especially from Senegal (26%), Mali (23%) and Gambia (10%). It is the profile of unaccompanied migrant minors, known as oras, who arrive in Tenerife irregularly and are cared for in the Residential Foster Care Network of the Cabildo. This is revealed in a pioneering report by the technicians of the Childhood and Family Unit of the Insular Institute of Social and Socio-Health Care (IASS). They have based this study on a survey carried out at the end of 2020 among 133 minors who arrived on the Island in canoes or small boats. The objective of the work is to know them, both in their origin and with respect to the motivations that led them to face the terrible Canarian maritime route from the neighboring continent. Know their reality to be able to serve them with the greatest efficiency. In a single sentence, “know to improve”.

The Cabildo has in its network of seven specialized centers with a hundred places for these minors. In total, the Island can serve a maximum of 140 of these children according to the quota established by the Canary Islands Federation, the Fecai. The survey, carried out between November and December 2020, reveals that 97% are men and only 3% are women. 74% of them are 16 (29%) or 17 years old (45%). Its origin is mainly sub-Saharan, although a high 33% comes from the Maghreb, 32% from Morocco. 75% do so via the West African sea route. In all of 2020, the year of the survey, 144 entered the three CAI (Immediate Reception Center) or the four CAME (Reception House for Foreign Minors) on the island. At the time of the field work, 61% had been in the centers for less than a year and 47% for more than six months.

Reasons to play life.

54% of the boys declare the intention of helping their family as a reason for risking their lives at seawhile 39% are moved study or work: improve your quality of life, definitely. 93% had a defined migration project; that is to say, some vital objectives for which to embark on this adventure many times without return. 43% wanted to go to the Peninsula, 38% to the Canary Islands, 11% to France and 8% to another European country. 79% indicate that they did not know what to do or say to be able to be in a reception center for foreign minors.

The reality that these adolescents have experienced during childhood in their countries of origin is heartbreaking, according to their own testimony. 35% had no drinking water and 37% lacked electricity at home. 13% suffered abuse or family abandonment and 23% discrimination. 62% belonged to a family with economic difficulties to survive.

A conclusive fact: 43% of menas could not study in their native environment. Keep in mind that more than 30 million children do not go to school in sub-Saharan Africa. Another key factor is that 45% assure that in their country there was –and there is– persecution or armed conflicts. 38% of Malians say so in the survey. Once here, 33% say they have suffered discrimination because of their race. and of these, 73% in community contexts and by strangers.

Your requests.

The work focuses on the main concerns of minors on island soil. Among them, speeding up the time to process the residence permit, more agreements with companies and entities to facilitate labor insertion and a system of scholarships that allows them to start or maintain, where appropriate, their studies.

Also demand more places in sheltered flats and in direct relation initiatives to be able to develop an independent life. A good part of those surveyed request help to reintegrate with their family either on another Island, on the Peninsula, in Europe, or even by returning to their country.

Decalogue of measures.

The authors establish a decalogue of recommendations or measures to be taken as main conclusions. In the first place, promote actions that facilitate autonomy and independence plans for social and labor integration after reaching the age of majority. Likewise, promote in the centers actions related to equality between men and women, as well as the prevention of gender violence. Another aspect to take into account is the possible exposure at source to situations of violation of fundamental rights in childhood, with a view to subsequent intervention. The high risk on the trip makes it necessary to be attentive to possible traumatic situations or emotional discomfort. We must not forget the special attention to girls and the possible practice of female genital mutilation, having been the object of human trafficking or the victim of a forced marriage. The other suggestions are to prioritize specific attention to recently arrived minors; favor and regulate center-family contact; a strategy to promote integration and participation in the community; offer educational staff specialized training on the Mena profile and, finally, return the study to the minors who took part.

In first person.

The survey is completely anonymous but the testimonies collected in the free expression section are revealing. For example, that of the boy who says: “I didn’t know where I was going when I started the trip.” Or that other one who is disarming because of his simplicity: “I would like to be in a home with children my age and have a mobile phone.” Or because of his naivety. “I need help to be able to play football in Spain.” Also reflections that are equivalent to a dream: “Being able to get a residence permit with authorization to work.” And very simple aspirations: «I would like to have more money to buy clothes and tennis». Finally, messages full of philosophy: «I like to be a good person and have a life like the canaries; I want them to respect me. I promise to be a good citizen

The 44-page study is signed by Ana María Belda Quintana, Social Worker of the IASS Childhood and Family Unit, and Ana Elba Herrera Estévez, pedagogue and deputy director of the Unit. They had the collaboration of the technician María José Fragoso Trujillo and all were coordinated by Antonio Guijarrro Expósito, director of the Unit. An equally detailed analysis of the reality of the Menas has not been made. Summarize what they have found. “These are the voices, the thoughts and the stories of our migrant minors without family references.” They value: «The testimonies that they have wanted to share have brought us closer to delve into this reality. Our thanks to them and to them for their collaboration». In one sentence: “Know to improve”.