Simon Acquah, a Ghanaian currently based in Venva, Spain, shared his inspiring journey in an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide show. Originally from Anomabo near Ankaful in Ghana, Simon moved to Spain between 2018 and 2019 with help from a friend in Germany who supported his relocation.
Back in Ghana, Simon was an auto mechanic and worked as a mate (driver’s assistant). He had a small team under him in Kasoa. After arriving in Spain, he initially slept at the Red Cross shelter. He took the opportunity to learn Spanish and joined various programs to help immigrants get jobs.
Simon recalled working in a media-related job and later in a cruise ship kitchen, where he unfortunately had an accident and cut his hand. He was rushed to the hospital, where he spent two months. Thankfully, an association supported him financially during his recovery.
After recovering, he searched for new opportunities and landed a job at a shoe factory. While there, he expressed interest in working with machinery. After three months of training, he impressed his employers and was offered a one-year contract.
Simon noticed that many Black immigrants in Spain avoid skilled jobs and instead prefer farm or factory work. But he took a different route, continuing to search for opportunities in auto mechanics. Eventually, he was tested by a garage and successfully fixed multiple vehicles in a short time. The company immediately offered him a contract and even laid off two American employees who lacked the necessary skills.
Simon explained that in Spain, if you work normally, you get a normal salary, but if you take on more jobs and show dedication, your income increases. He now rents a place and continues to work in the auto repair industry. He also supports colleagues when needed, though he pointed out that those who are not serious or skilled often get laid off quickly.
“Most white customers don’t like repairing old cars; they prefer buying new ones,” he observed. “But I’ve built a strong reputation, and now I have customers from other European countries requesting my services.”
Simon’s dream is to open his own motor repair shop in Spain. He estimates the cost of setting up a garage to be around €2,500. Despite the challenges, he’s not discouraged. He believes that focusing on a skilled trade will provide him with long-term stability and income.
He also had a message for fellow Ghanaians and Africans: “Forget what people back home say. If you focus on learning a skill, even if the money is small at first, you’ll succeed. Those who avoid learning skills often complain that salaries in Spain are poor. But with my mechanic job, I earn a good salary and even extra income during the week.
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