Migrants in the Canary Islands are learning Spanish to integrate into society.

Wally, Malek, Moussa, and Lamine (names changed for security) arrived in the Canary Islands hoping for a new life, but they were filled with fear and uncertainty. The first problem was the language, completely different from the one they spoke in Mali.

Now they live in Puerto de la Cruz. The boys communicate with each other in their native language, but they are also learning Spanish. They are helped in classes organized by the city authorities together with the organization "Aquí estamos migrando". The purpose of these classes is to help migrants better understand the local culture and adapt more quickly.

About twenty boys from Mali, Gambia, and Senegal, aged 16-17, come to the gym twice a week (on Mondays and Wednesdays) to study Spanish. They understand that knowing the language is the key to a successful future.

The project started in January and was recently relaunched. At the first lesson after the break, the boys shared their impressions of Tenerife, talked about how they spent the summer, what they did, and whether they made new friends. They laughed, tried to write correctly, and listened attentively to their teacher, Emma Servando.

This lesson helped them feel together again after the holidays. They talked about their summer adventures and said goodbye to a friend who had received asylum.

One boy said that he met a girl named Anabella in the summer. She is from Germany. They met on the pier and communicated "a little in Spanish, a little in German". Anabella has now returned home, but they continue to communicate on social media.

These boys have a lot in common. They all love football and pizza. This summer, they tried different types of pizza and were delighted.

But they are also united by common values. Most of them do not like "problems and quarrels" and try to avoid conflicts.

Experts say that knowing the language is very important for adapting to a new country. Especially if the native language is very different from the local one, as is the case with African languages.

Most of these boys know two or three languages, because in Africa they often move from one country to another. They understand each other, know French, English, and some even know a little German.

Therefore, it is relatively easy for them to learn Spanish. The most difficult thing is writing. Emma explains that when you don't know the language, you just copy the words without understanding them. Therefore, it is important to understand first and then write.

The boys understand that they need to be able to read and write in order to find a job and become part of society. Emma tries to teach them words that are needed in everyday life, such as "passport", "documents", "doctor". This will make it easier for them to start writing.

Some of them have never been to school, so they need to be taught differently. Emma says that the lessons are difficult because there are students with different levels of knowledge in the group. It is difficult to explain the rules of the language to those who have never studied.

To help them, Emma pays attention to each student, supports team spirit, and creates a safe atmosphere where they feel comfortable.

She says that the most important thing is their desire to learn. Despite the fact that they are far from home and forced to start independent lives early, they are trying to learn a new language.

Integration is not only about language, but also about the support of the whole society. Emma believes that these boys have many valuable qualities, such as diligence, dedication, and a desire to learn. And they deserve a chance.

Recently, a representative of the city authorities, David Hernández, met with the boys to find out how they spent the summer and how they are living on the island.

Hernández stressed that the goal of this project is to help migrants adapt to society, taking into account their needs in education, psychological support, and emotional well-being.