In my modest experience first as a citizen and then as a small businessman, Africans have many opportunities to explore when we are already here, in the Canary Islands, in Spain and in Europe.
First, the work, the working conditions, the working hours, the legislation, the salaries are a privilege compared to our countries of origin.
Second, the health care system is also unlike many places in Africa and provides opportunities to maintain good physical and emotional health.
The economic freedom of everyone working here is not the same as when we work there. The family burden of a worker in Africa is enormous and this is unknown here. To give you an idea, one of us works to feed at least ten people who do not work. Families are large, with many members, including grandparents, parents, children, uncles, aunts and uncles, and sometimes there are several wives and more grandparents, children and relatives... And a worker has to provide for all of them. It is his duty.
Regarding wages and the way they are paid, they are also lower and it is very difficult to survive for many workers.
All these factors need to be taken into account.
These obligations, this enormous pressure, in a certain sense disappears when we arrive in the Canary Islands, in Spain, in Europe, and allows us to have the resources to get by more, better and more quickly than if we were in our place of origin.
From my personal experience, the integration of Africans in Spain is simple and unproblematic; I am sure there will be exceptions, but at least my perception of many years here has been that. Spain, the vast majority, is a very open, sociable and supportive country. So are we, and that is why our integration is easier than in other parts of the world.
Integration has allowed mixed marriages and in the process helped to increase the European birth rate, which is falling at an alarming rate.
This understanding between Europeans and Africans is also a great tool against racism and increases the economic and social wealth of a population called to move towards multiculturalism.
Whether as entrepreneurs or as workers, Africans make a decisive contribution to job creation and contribute to the treasury accounts in every country where we reside, in businesses ranging from new technologies to construction, from hospitality to health and public services.
And, while we contribute to the wealth of our host country, we continue to send a significant amount of remittances to our countries of origin to help our families. In other words, we are also a very important element in Africa's development. Having a job and developing a professional life in Europe for an African also means contributing to Africa's development and progress, if anyone would like to take this into account.
In conclusion, I believe that many Africans who come to the Canary Islands, Spain and Europe are very interesting for the economy, social and cultural development of the old continent, while at the same time, having resources at our disposal, we also contribute to the development of our countries of origin and to the improvement of living conditions and stability in many African countries.