Claire Trichot: "When a minor has the idea of migrating, it is very difficult to stop them."

BarcelonaAt the beginning of the century, the Casal dels InfantsCasal, a well-established institution in the metropolitan area, recognized the need to have eyes and hands in Morocco to work in collaboration with local organizations, children intending to emigrate, and their families. Claire Trichot, from France, heads the Casal delegation in the North African country, based in Tangier.

What kind of children does she assist?

— Most are Moroccan, but also unaccompanied minors who are in the country in a situation of mobility. It is a more complex group, they are less visible and there are not as many of them. Sub-Saharan children are found in border areasThey require little care because their goal is to cross the border. They live in wooded areas, hidden away. Of the 1,146 unaccompanied minors assisted while on the move, 95 are foreign nationals (Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea). Among the Moroccan children, there are situations of family breakdown, but they clearly have mothers and families; the realities are diverse: children of single mothers, single-mother families. If the father fails, the child wants to be the savior. For a family, separating from their child is also a very difficult ordeal due to the risks involved, which is why we try to ensure that when they arrive in Europe, they reconnect with their families and contact them. We work extensively with the mothers, who experience many contradictions and pressures. It's necessary to work with the family to deconstruct the child's narrative, which often doesn't tell the whole truth because there are too many expectations.

Did you try to dissuade them from their desire to migrate?

— Immigration is structural and highly complex for any organization. Our goal is to protect minors and reduce the risks they face in this territory. It is a tragedy that they undertake such perilous journeys, leaving their families behind, but we cannot combat such a widespread phenomenon. However, we can empower stakeholders in the territories they pass through to fulfill their responsibilities. This also applies in Morocco, so that children have more opportunities and families receive better guidance. However, once they have the idea of migrating, it is difficult to stop them.We are trying to make things better and reduce forced immigration.

What motivates them to emigrate? Is it a personal decision or a family obligation?

— The immigration ecosystem is complex, leading to inequalities, reduced opportunities, and families trapped in a vicious cycle. The idea of a better life is currently found in Europe. Although it's not widely discussed, the migration process can also be an opportunity for children, because it's much more difficult for adults.

Are the laws in Spain designed to encourage child migration?

— After the age of 18, everything becomes more intense because opportunities are scarce and Europe is closing itself off. However, minors can gain more, often at the expense of their mental health. And they don't always succeed. There's a lack of understanding of the phenomenon of minors embarking on this journey without their families, but it's a reality. As social actors, our role is to protect them, support them, and help ensure their dreams of a better life aren't shattered before they turn 18. This reality only fuels their desire to leave.

Is it true that Morocco encourages the migration of minors?

— I acknowledge that Morocco is trying to develop public policies to improve the lives of its citizens, but we're still far from that, and there's a deeply ingrained migration culture. Who doesn't have someone in Europe? We see more acceptance and a greater willingness to improve. In Europe, the opposite is true, although Catalonia remains a protective territory. But if Morocco were to fulfill its obligations properly, as it claims, and if children were to remain in school, they wouldn't leave. Morocco has only recently begun to acknowledge this reality and work with young people who want to emigrate. When we started, the authorities didn't see children on the streets, or single mothers; nobody wanted to leave. And what isn't talked about doesn't exist. When you recognize it, you have to confront it.

In recent months there have been protests by young people against the spending on construction projects for the 2030 World Cup.

— These are manifestations that respond to the worry, mistrust, the feeling of not being heard, and frustrationWe are now seeing a shift in language from public administrations, an openness linked to tourism and the image for 2030. And I see this as positive: this change in narrative allows us to work with greater objectivity. We all agree on respecting the best interests of the child and on the need for opportunities.

Although they are fewer in number, there are also migrant girls.

— This year we have served 33. They are few and very vulnerableWe must focus on the issue of violence in schools and families and ensure that the protection system addresses the specific needs of girls, both in Europe and in Morocco. There is a challenge in creating specific spaces to foster the empowerment of girls fleeing the violence of the patriarchal system that generates inequalities.