He is 20 years old, and she is 65. Since April, they have met every week to chat for a while. Sometimes they go for a coffee, other times they go for a walk near the sea. They talk about a thousand things, about the culture here and there, about parties, about food, about longing for family and friends, or about expectations. His, finishing his training, working, settling down. Maybe the university. A little elaborate dream in case a sudden turn of the wheel of life prevents it from being achieved.

She tells him about her grandchildren and the choir in which she participates, with people of 24 nationalities. She is curious about other cultures and about the “other” in general. She knows how to listen. She offers, if she asks, her point of view on issues of all kinds, practical or not. And she lets herself be carried away by Badalona, ??to discover the beautiful corners that the young migrant knows, enchanted in the role of his cicerone.

Moussa Laghrichi, a student in a higher cycle of social integration, and Montse Fisas, a former administrator, are part of the social mentoring program of the Punt de Referència Foundation, which since 1997 has accompanied young people under guardianship or formerly under guardianship. In 2022, they served a hundred. “We want them to reinforce their self-esteem and build a social network,” says Rita Grané, director of the organization.

“I have been alone in Barcelona since I arrived in the city at the age of 15. My family is in Larache (Morocco), now I am no longer in a reception center, and when they offered me to stay with a person from here every week, I did not hesitate”, explains Moussa. “It suited me well. I was in a moment of overwhelm, studying and working at the same time. Having a person who listens to you, who tells you that you’re doing well, that it doesn’t matter if your nerves make you fail an exam, is great luck”.

Every year some 900 young people in care come of age in Catalonia who lose the protection of the Administration. “Can you imagine turning 18 and not being able to count on anyone?” Says the advertisement of the entity, which wants to increase the number of volunteers.

Montse Fisas recently retired from her administrative job. She is an active woman, she adores her grandchildren and she likes to sing and travel, but she wanted to give part of her time to whoever needed it. She followed the Punt de Referència training course, prior to mentoring, of 10 hours of training. “I learned very interesting things, because it anticipates situations that you did not imagine and that can happen.”

Moussa is the second young man that Montse accompanies. “You don’t have to do anything special, you don’t have to have experience. The commitment is to accompany him as best you know how”.

Both confess that they felt a certain uneasiness before they met, but with the first date the feeling dissipated. “I never think about what topic I will talk about. I don’t know how, but the conversation flows naturally. She’s great,” he credits his mentor. “Moussa is very mature for his age, very determined, very educated, you can talk about anything with him,” Montse responds to praise.

Step by step, the young migrant has completed the 4th year of ESO, an initial training program, an intermediate cycle and is now in the second year of the upper cycle. He works in a residence for people with disabilities. “I didn’t think it would be like this. I have a good time, you laugh a lot, and I like to offer my hands to those who don’t have theirs”.

“My father tells me to listen carefully to Montse and follow her advice, that it’s lucky to meet her.” The memory of her family gives him strength. “As a child, I skipped French classes, and I never learned. Now I regret it and I have not wanted to miss any opportunity. But you have to have willpower because it’s not easy.” It is precisely this force that he wants to transmit one day to the adolescents of his country who, like him, arrive lost in the city.