Being an orphan in Africa comes with significant challenges, and Haruna Garba has had this experience. After the death of his father, his life in Togo became very difficult, leading him to make the tough decision to leave his country. “Leaving was not easy; it was a long and complicated journey,” Haruna recalls.

His journey began at 12, following a solitary path that took him through Mauritania, Algeria, and finally to the Canary Islands. Each stage of the journey showed him the harsh realities of life, especially in the desert, where he had experiences that marked him deeply.

Upon arriving in Valencia, Garba felt profound relief and gratitude, exclaiming, “Thank God, I am home.” In Spain, he found refuge at Xabec a place which would transform his life. “Xabec is love and well-being; there I saw the love I wanted,” he says. The vocational training center, which started modestly, has grown to accommodate 1,500 students and offers much more than education.

After finding stability and love in Spain, Garba married and started a family. He is now happily married with three children. However, his desire has always been to help more orphaned children in his home country. “I don’t want other children to risk their lives to get to Spain.” Motivated by his own experience, Garba has worked to improve conditions in Togo.

With great effort, they built a school last year in Togo, and now 27 orphaned children have a safe place where they have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “Starting from scratch has been the best for me, just like Xabec in its beginnings,” says Garba. This year, he aims to expand the project and start vocational training, establish more schools in various African countries, and offer children new opportunities.

Garba expresses his deep gratitude towards Luis Valls, whom he never met personally but whose contribution to Xabec has been crucial. “Thanks to Luis Valls, Xabec is one of the best schools in the world,” he concludes.