The Youth Coach Foundation in Eindhoven tries to help young people who lack an example. They have become stuck, have fallen into crime or are at risk of falling into it. Founder is Mostafa Abdelsamie. His father died when he was seven years old. The help he lacked himself at the time, he now tries to give to other young people.
Mostafa talks about his childhood: “When my father passed away, I missed a role model. I noticed that my brothers and I couldn’t talk about our feelings. My mother is illiterate. We often had to help her because of this. In fact, as a child I had to live like an adult. I needed help at that time. I also see that with the young people I now coach.”
“My father had a special belt for beating me.”
One of them is Ahmed (25) from Eindhoven. He tells of his childhood: “My father had a special belt to beat me. He was very violent. My mother was also beaten a lot. It was horrible and I was terrified of him. I hated being home.”
Ahmed was born in Veldhoven, but the family moved to Manchester in England. “I used to hang out on the street and end up in a gang. We committed violent robberies. Eventually I was caught and I ended up in prison. I had to serve two years. Then I realized that I had to do something with my life, otherwise it would be my death. I just didn’t know how.”
When Ahmed was released, he was sent back to the Netherlands. He ended up in Eindhoven. “I’ve been here since September. I wanted to start a new life but I had no idea where to start.” Then he came into contact with Mostafa and his foundation.
“Some young people call us brother or cousin.”
Mostafa tries to be a role model for boys like Ahmed: “We go further than most aid workers. We are available 24 hours a day and we really dive into their environment. That means we train together in the gym, make music or hang out on the street.”
In addition, they are not recognizable as aid workers. “We don’t have special clothes. Young people can call us whatever they want, so sometimes they call us brother or cousin. We really try to bond with them. That has to be real, from both sides. My phone doesn’t ring five hours out. I’m just there, listening and giving my all.”
Mostafa tries to see where someone’s talents lie and zooms in on them. “Many of our boys have been abandoned. They are impressionable and need someone to give them an alternative. A lot of our work is preventative. We try to keep young people on the right track.”
“Mostafa feels like a big brother.”
Ahmed met Mostafa at the gym and is very happy about it: “We often train together and we are very fanatical. I can say anything to him and ask him, he feels like a big brother. His support feels great. I am so thankful that I got to meet him.”
Because of Mostafa, Ahmed now works as a traffic controller. “I would like to become a bodyguard and work in security. I also dream of my own gym. Because of the love I receive from Mostafa, I believe in my future again. You don’t have to use violence to achieve something in your life. “