The Syrian Ola Khalaf (33) herself knows how difficult it is to make a living as a refugee in the Netherlands. “I hope to be able to help women through my own experiences. I urge everyone to learn Dutch and to surround yourself with people from all kinds of cultures. That’s the only way to make it.” From now on every Wednesday morning, women can go to De Bron in Poelenburg, where Ola gives a workshop on civic integration.
Six years ago she came to the Netherlands because of the war in Syria. Alone and pregnant, she spent more than three months in the Ter Apel shelter. “From day one I did volunteer work. I interpreted from Arabic to English,” says Ola, who was a lecturer in Arabic literature at the university in her home country. From Ter Apel she went to the AZC in Almere. It was only after a year and a half that she was recognized as a status holder and she was given a home in Zaandam. Her husband, a lawyer, had also come over in the meantime.
She now speaks Dutch quite well, but she has also tried very hard for that. “At the Vrije Universiteit I followed very intensive Dutch courses for six months. By the way, I was only allowed to do that when I had a residence permit.” She is currently studying Middle East and working as an interpreter.
Pact Poelenburg
This first morning, a group of women of various nationalities from the Kogerveld district listen to the story of Elissa van Rooijen. She works for the municipality of Zaanstad and is a policy advisor for youth in Poelenburg and Peldersveld. She talks enthusiastically about all kinds of measures that have been agreed in the Pact Poelenburg to help young people at school, after school and in finding work. A Somali woman says she is happy that her sons are playing football. “Then they train at least twice a week and play a match. Then they are busy and off the street. Because there is not much to do for the youth in Kogerveld.”
In Poelenburg, says Elissa, a lot is organized and that is why we are now looking to expand such an approach to other Zaanse districts. The women point out that there is not even a community center in their neighbourhood. And without such a place you cannot develop any activities.
Beauty treatment as a lure
Ola had actually prepared a lesson about the complicated Dutch school system. All concepts are in Dutch and Arabic on a double-sided A4 sheet. That will certainly come in handy. The women from Kogerveld go upstairs for a moment. Because the morning is not only for learning, but also for entertainment. At Lana, the women can receive a soothing beauty treatment for a small fee. “Think of it as an extra lure to come here on Wednesday,” says Ola with a big smile.