The organization Somos Acogida has highlighted the worrying reality faced by some young migrants in Madrid, who, upon reaching adulthood, are left unprotected and without resources. The association's president, Emilia Lozano, describes how many of these young people end up wandering through parks like Isabel Clara Eugenia in Hortaleza and, at times, sleeping on the streets after leaving reception centers.
“"They are barely fed, zero training, zero leisure. And then, to the streets."
According to Somos Acogida, the problem originates in centers designed for temporary stays, where many young people arrive without family networks or language proficiency. The association criticizes deficiencies in food, training, and leisure, but emphasizes that the most critical moment is when they turn 18 and must leave the protection system.
An example of this situation is Niokhor, a young Senegalese who will soon have to leave the center where he resides. Like many others, he came to Spain seeking a better future for his family. Faced with this problem, initiatives such as the Casa de la Solidaridad, promoted by Somos Acogida in Toledo, seek to offer accommodation and support for the integration and autonomy of former foster youth.
The association has also reported a climate of insecurity in the park, caused by groups that, they claim, conduct "night raids" to intimidate these young people, whom they consider particularly vulnerable. For its part, the Ombudsman has urged the strengthening of integration policies, while the Community of Madrid states it has specific programs for young people aged 16 to 25. However, on the ground, organizations like Somos Acogida warn of a gap between existing resources and the reality many of these young people face, trapped in a limbo just when they should be starting their adult lives.
