The Burden of Migrant Debt: Young People Facing the Cost of Their Journey

The Ginac Foundation supports former unaccompanied minors in managing family financial pressure and legal integration.

Generic image of a group of young people in a shelter home talking to an educator.
IA

Generic image of a group of young people in a shelter home talking to an educator.

Lachen, a young man who arrived in Tortosa and Reus as a minor in 2018, highlights the struggle of repaying the 4,000 euros his family spent on his journey.

Crossing the strait in a small boat at age fifteen is just the start of a difficult path. Many young people from Africa arrive with a heavy financial burden. Lachen's family sold all their land to fund his trip, creating a debt that he is still paying back years later while working in Valls.

"When we explain to the families that they are receiving training, they feel more at peace."

Soulaymane · Educator at Ginac Foundation
The Ginac Foundation runs the Camins d'Inserció project to address this issue. By contacting parents in their home countries, educators like Soulaymane help families understand the reality of life in Europe and the importance of education over immediate financial returns.
In collaboration with DGAIA, the foundation provides housing for ten young adults. These residents must follow strict rules and focus on their studies to secure their future under the Spanish Immigration Law, which requires stable employment to maintain residency after two years.