Janko arrived on the island of El Hierro approximately a month ago in a canoe after a 13-day journey along the Atlantic Route, despite having only very basic notions of how to swim.
During that time, he admits, he witnessed “very harsh” things that he “had never imagined” like the deaths of “many people”, including “two friends”.
Nevertheless, the young Gambian repeats several times that “such is life” and that now is the time to “look forward”, because life is about “moving forward” and “each day is a new challenge to learn new skills”, reflections that he shares with EFE, looking down, confident yet elusive.
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Despite everything, Janko’s words sound determined and joyful, while several groups of migrants from countries like Guinea Conakry, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco and, above all, Senegal, chat around him, sharing laughs. They have been participating in a workshop focused on learning to swim, aimed initially at helping some of them, but in reality, it is about reconciling almost all of them with the water after surviving the ocean.
Reconciling with the water
The NGO Proemaid is responsible for carrying out this activity with the collaboration of ACCEM, the organization that manages the temporary reception centre for foreigners at Las Raíces in Tenerife, one of the largest facilities of its kind in Canaries.
“I have had to face many things, especially psychological ones, but I have also met many wonderful people who make me feel brave and have helped me stir those more emotional parts of my mind. Because I am convinced that this is something that, if you don’t leave behind, you cannot move forward,” says Janko.
This story, which may seem unique and anecdotal, represents the reality of the majority of the 5,000 people who have lost their lives trying to reach the coasts of the Canaries in the first semester of 2024, according to figures from the NGO Caminando Fronteras.
The survivors who arrive in the archipelago are quickly transferred to the mainland, but in the meantime, many of them take advantage of opportunities like the one provided by this swimming course, which, as explained by the head of ACCEM in the islands, Francisco Navarro, this year expects to reach 500 users over the eight-week duration.
“This project has been running in the Canaries since 2022 and basically seeks reconciliation with the sea (…) in this case on the beach of Las Teresitas, where the aim is to help these individuals overcome the fear that has remained in them and also teach them to swim, teach them immersion techniques, breathing techniques and everything related to navigating in aquatic environments,” explains Navarro.
Starting off with difficulties in the first few days, as detailed by Julia, one of the Proemaid monitors, many of the migrants “are very fearful of the water” and others “get very nervous” when attempting floating exercises, but after a couple of weeks attending the classes, they gain confidence and become more relaxed, even those who come from towns, cities or countries without a coast.
Acquiring New Skills
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For Janko, it has been an easy task, as Gambia has a coastline and one of the longest rivers on the African continent, and with a few sessions of the course, he has been able to improve his technique and acquire a new skill, although his main goal is to continue his training as a pastry chef.
“My future has been decided since I was in Gambia. There, I obtained two professional certificates, while working and studying, but now I would like to learn the different cooking techniques available here, which also involve the use of other ingredients. It doesn’t matter if I stay here or go to the mainland, the goal is the same,” says the young migrant.
While waiting for their future to be decided, many of the migrants are clear that they do not want to stay in the Canaries, a territory far from the European continent that records some of the worst employment, average salary, and poverty statistics in Spain.
However, Janko admits that he has grown fond of Tenerife and the workers and monitors at the camp, whom he thanks for their “kindness and friendliness”. This is why he acknowledges that he and other companions are saddened to continue their journey to the mainland because they will leave behind “amazing people” whom they do not know if they will see again, but with whom they hold the promise of returning to visit someday.
