On August 7, 2018, Mohamed Saliou, known as Moha, arrived in Motril, Spain, after surviving a perilous sea crossing from Morocco. He was 15, and his journey had begun two years earlier in Guinea, driven by hopes of a better future and the ambition to study medicine.
Moha left Guinea at 13 with a friend, carrying little more than enough money for a bus ticket. He travelled through Mali and Algeria before reaching Morocco, where he worked in construction and as a shepherd to fund each new stage. Months in Tangier and the mountains near Nador tested his resolve. His first goal was France, where speaking the language would ease his adjustment. After seven failed attempts to reach Europe, he finally boarded his eighth patera, a small, overcrowded boat carrying 48 people, including minors and women travelling with infants.
After 24 hours at sea, Spanish maritime rescue brought the passengers to Motril. Initial records listed Moha as 14, but his birth certificate confirmed he was 15. The journey covered more than 4,000 kilometres and left a lasting mark. Reaching Spain was only the beginning of his efforts to build a life there.
The danger of such crossings remains clear in separate cases. In October 2026, COPE reported that Policía Nacional investigators had brought three alleged boat operators before a judicial authority in Almería over three crossings involving 27 migrants. The boats reportedly lacked basic safety equipment, including life jackets and communications gear, and the court ordered the suspects held in provisional detention. That investigation involved different crossings and was separate from Moha’s 2018 journey.
Building a New Life
After arriving, Moha was placed in a protection centre in Granada, then transferred to a facility for minors in Padules, Almería. He spoke almost no Spanish and received two hours of lessons a day. He enrolled at Valle del Andarax secondary school in Canjáyar and completed the final years of compulsory education. There, he met Pilar Carmona, an English and social sciences teacher who later became his adoptive mother and a basic figure in his academic journey.
Determined to enter healthcare, Moha pursued a vocational qualification as a nursing assistant. His practical training took him to Hospital Vithas Almería, where he began working as an orderly before becoming a qualified auxiliary nurse. His progress also appeared in media reports, including a 2026 CanalSur interview that highlighted his commitment to further study.
Continuing Education and Ambitions
Moha’s lead continued after his first healthcare qualification. He completed a second vocational programme in dental prosthetics and gained experience in Milan, Turin and Porto. Although he was offered a job in Portugal, he chose to return to Almería, where he worked in care homes before resuming his hospital career. Each step helped him build skills and stability as he moved from the protection system to independent adulthood.
His ultimate goal is to study medicine at university. Moha connects that ambition to the limited access to healthcare he witnessed in Guinea, where poverty can leave people without treatment. In 2026, he continues to prepare for university entrance, determined to use his education to help others in Spain and his country of origin.
Facing Barriers and Looking Forward
Despite his achievements, Moha says integration has not removed every obstacle. He has described how being Black in a Spanish hospital can draw attention and recalled occasions when he was the only person asked for identification while out with Spanish friends. For him, these moments point to forms of rejection that can persist after years of study and work.
Moha says dedication and a willingness to work matter most to employers. His story featured in the documentary short Una persona relevante, which aired on RTVE in December 2024 and follows his relationship with Pilar, his family and his professional life. Eight years after arriving in Spain, his journey reflects the ability to recover and educational opportunities, along with the personal support, that have shaped his life.
Talent24h presents Moha’s experience as one example of the possibilities open to young migrants when they have the chance to build a life in Spain through study and work.
