The World We Share: Meet Ahmed Kessir

Mr. Kessir is the friendly store manager of a quaint neighborhood shop in Paris. Every day, he serves customers from all over the world, helping them send money to their loved ones back home.

Two decades after he started working there, the native Tunisian has plenty of interesting anecdotes to share. So we attempted to get to the heart of his story in this instalment of The World We Share.

The path he has followed since leaving his home country hasn’t always been easy. Yet, despite the obstacles, he stands proudly at his shop on Boulevard Jean-Jaurès, sharing a message of hope to those who struggle to find their place far from home.

Key Takeaways

▪ Starting over requires patience and resilience.

▪ Migration reshapes identity but doesn’t erase roots.

▪ Family is a vital support system, even across borders.

▪ Money transfers are about support, not just transactions.

▪ Remittances help foster and maintain human connections.

▪ Community trust is built over time and care.

From Tataouine to Paris: Mr. Kessir’s Journey

Mr. Kessir was born in Tataouine, an oasis in Southern Tunisia also known as “the doors to the desert”. In this small city, everything is close by. He describes life there as very family-oriented, with a trusted network of people supporting him at every turn.

However, Mr. Kessir chose to swap the sunny Tataouine for the dreary streets of Paris in the late 1990s. And in doing so, he also traded safety and familiarity for an uncertain future.

The young dreamer left behind everything he knew to study in France. Once he got there, he encountered many obstacles. From overcoming cultural shock to trying to provide for himself and his family, the experience was pretty jarring—to say the least.

“Life is completely different. Everything is fast,” noted Mr. Kessir when recalling the transition to a big city. That can be harsh for anyone. But when it also comes with a new language, different norms, and the loss of your community, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. “The pace, the culture, the habits, the food… It’s all so different.” he observes.

Mr. Kessir admitted that it was difficult for him in the beginning. “You have to manage by all means to meet your financial needs, to sort out housing, and to find work on your own, because you’ve left your family and your entire circle behind,” he explains. The financial pressure, daily responsibilities, and loneliness of this situation can be a lot to handle.

But Mr. Kessir persisted, ultimately feeling well integrated into his new culture. The young man didn’t know it yet, but his efforts were about to be rewarded. Indeed, he would soon come across an opportunity that would forever alter the course of his life.

Finding His Place: Work, Responsibility, and Growth

Some people can look back in time and pinpoint a defining moment that changed everything in their life. For Mr. Kessir, that was when he entered the workforce.

In 2004, he got a job in a telecommunications company—a good position that allowed him to provide for his family. “It all started from there,” he remarks. Two years later, he was promoted as store manager… in the very shop from which he recounts this story. And he’s been there ever since.

When the company shut down, Mr. Kessir saw it as an opportunity, taking over the shop and setting up his own business. “I took over the shop with an advantage: since I had been an employee in the shop, I knew the services,” he tells us. As he’d already been providing remittance services, he decided to keep doing what he knew best.

After working with other money transfer operators, the store manager eventually found his way to Ria, officially becoming an agent in 2017. As he reflects on this change, Mr. Kessir notes that he is thankful for the support he always got. “Everyone is close to us, we feel like family,” he observes.

Ria employees were there to accompany him every step of the way, offering fast, ‘round-the-clock assistance. The help he received throughout the process enabled him to set up the money transfer services in record time.

Another thing that the store manager appreciates is the quick response whenever there is an issue for a customer. “They always answer quickly, responding to all needs and requests,” he assures.

Good customer service is what makes the difference for Mr. Kessir. It is very important to him, because he sees his job as a way to give back to his community. “We’re in the business of helping people stay connected with their families,” he states. That is the common thread that has directed his work from the very beginning.

Staying Connected to Home

Remittances build bridges across borders, enabling migrant workers to preserve their family ties. This is crucial, because being separated from your support network can severely impact anyone’s mental health and wellbeing.

Mr. Kessir experienced it firsthand. “My family is in Tunisia. My parents and my brothers are all there,” he tells us. Coming from a small city, he was used to seeing them very often. That is until he came to France.

“The separation was very hard,” he acknowledges, when talking about leaving them behind. “It was really difficult for me, and for my parents too,” he adds. Thankfully, it is much easier to communicate now than when he first moved out, thanks to new technologies.

Talking on the phone every day and visiting as often as he can has made him feel closer his loved ones back home. It also helps that the Tataouine native has built a new family in France, with his wife and their children. But he hasn’t forgotten how difficult it was at first.

That’s why Mr. Kessir considers it a crucial part of the job to be there for his customers. Those who are new to this country, as he once was, often have doubts. “They ask questions like how to send parcels abroad, transfer money, get SIM cards, or set up phone lines,” he says. So he does his best to guide them as they find their bearings in their new life.

That commitment helps him forge strong relationships with his customers. Mr. Kessir recalls a story that has particularly marked him, as it shows the positive impact that his work can have on others.

The Power of Helping Others

There was an Ivorian client who regularly came to send remittances to his family. The elderly man trusted the staff to help him make his transfers. On many occasions, the employees talked to his son directly to assist them in withdrawing the money.

The regular would often stay to chat and bond with the staff. “He didn’t just transfer and leave, he stayed with us,” recalls the store manager. Over the years, a friendship developed between all of them, up to the day when he mysteriously stopped coming. “We really missed him,” confesses Mr. Kessir, recounting how everybody wondered what had happened to the customer. But his fate remained a mystery.

That is until one day, a couple of years later, when his son suddenly showed up at Mr. Kessir’s store. The child had grown up and moved to France, tracking down the shop to inform them that his father had unfortunately passed away.

“He came specifically looking for the agency to thank us for all we did for him and his father,” declares Mr. Kessir. “That touched us a lot. It’s an act that’s really engraved in our minds.”

Stories like this one demonstrate the importance of small charitable gestures. By taking the time to personally guide a customer and getting to know him as a person, Mr. Kessir’s actions had a positive ripple effect that reached into the next generations.

Pride, Perspective, and Advice

Overall, Mr. Kessir is proud of his job and what he’s become. “When I was back home, I never dreamed of achieving this,” he reflects. Although he only intended to stay in France for a couple of years, the opportunities he got ended up changing his plans.

Since moving to Paris, he has started a family, become store manager, and seen his children get quality education that will open many doors for them. So, despite the hurdles and everything he’s left behind, he doesn’t regret his decision to leave Tunisia.

When we ask if his journey has been guided by destiny or his own choices, Mr. Kessir doesn’t hesitate. “Both at the same time,” he says. “Destiny is not pre-written as they say. Willpower can be a part of destiny.”

With that meaningful message, Mr. Kessir wishes to spread hope to others. “You can make it,” he states, addressing migrants who are just starting their journey. “I would advise you not to give up, not to get discouraged,” he concludes.

Mr. Kessir’s migration story inspires all of us. It shows us that, with enough determination, patience, and a trusty support network, anyone can take charge of their destiny.

Need to send money to a loved one abroad? Download our app, go to our website or visit a Ria location to get started.

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