"I arrived in Barcelona just after graduating in Journalism," says Gabriela. She came to meet her mother and sister, who were forced to leave Colombia to seek political asylum due to serious violence and threats. "I wanted to continue studying, but reality changed my perspective on the future," she recalls, mentioning that she was in an irregular administrative situation, without a job, and without any guarantees for anything.

Looking for organizations that support newly arrived migrant people to start building a network in the city, she found the BarcelonActua Foundation. "It's a welcoming place, where if you want to build, they offer you a base," Gabriela emphasizes. For months, she was part of the LandingWomen program and participated in its weekly activities to continue creating a support network that would allow her to access new opportunities. "Until they told me about the Migrant Up program," she explains with the characteristic smile that defines her, admitting that she was greatly encouraged to apply.

"For a moment, I forgot I was a journalist," she remarks, and she assures that "you lose your identity" when you live in an irregular situation and are forced into precariousness to survive. When she arrived, her only option was to work illegally, with workdays of more than 13 hours without rest, under threats from bosses, sexual assaults, and all this without any guarantee of being paid at the end of the month. When she learned about Migrant Up, a program that provides information and advice for the validation of titles, and grants scholarships for studies that allow migrants o supplement their education, she knew it was just what she needed. "I had put aside the idea of studying a long time ago."

“I applied for the scholarship and told them my story to show them who I am and what my experience is," she says confidently. And on July 26th, the program coordinator informed her that she had been awarded the scholarship and additional support to pursue an international master's degree. "Being able to study again made me feel like a person again, like I hadn't lost everything," she confesses.

Since October, Gabriela has been studying a Master's in International Cooperation, accompanied by psycho-emotional support and personalized monitoring through her mentor and BAC volunteer, Katherin, who has experience in the same field. "And in less than a year, I'll have a master's degree and I'll be able to have the profession I want," Gabriela says with satisfaction.

"Education can transform lives," Gabriela admits, and she is clear that programs like Migrant Up allow everyone to choose their path on equal terms and prevent the obstacles of the system from making us lose ourselves or forget who we are and what our dreams are.