New confidence and a future

When Metin Anik suffered a business accident in 2019, his life collapsed. He got into a divorce, got into trouble with the justice system and even became temporarily homeless. It was a dark period. ‘Through all the misery, I had forgotten who I was. Werkse! has given me a new education and a positive boost.’

Metin is a hard worker. ‘I have been working in construction since I was 15. I did the hardest work: concrete braiding, pouring concrete, carpentry, things like that. In early 2019, something from a scaffold fell on my shoulder. It meant I had to undergo long rehabilitation and can never do heavy lifting again. So I had to say goodbye to the construction site.’

A job, or prison

The accident was the beginning of a lot of misery. Among other things, Metin found himself in trouble with the justice system. His case was not heard until 2023. ‘Because of corona, everything was delayed. Mistakes were also made, so I lost my benefits. That was the straw. Then I said, ‘Either you help me get another job, or I stay in prison.’

Metin eventually ended up at Perspektief, an organisation that supports people in trouble with safe housing and a day job. ‘I had 17 supervisors there in a few years. It was chaos, but still I am grateful to them. Through Perspektief, I came into contact with Werkse! There I spoke to counsellor Jort. I said: ‘I don’t want welfare, I want an education. I’ll get that soon, then you’ll be rid of me and I’ll be rid of you.’

Own learning method

Werkse! paid for the training and Metin threw himself into his truck driving licence. He started with his theory.’I didn’t agree with that method at all. You are taught all morning and 500 questions are pounded into your head. In the afternoon, you then have to take an exam. That didn’t work for me. I convinced Werkse! to find another way. I wanted to take two courses, two weeks in a row. That way I could remember the material much better. I passed the second time with only eight mistakes.’

Kicking: driving a building

After his theory, Metin got his C driving licence, for driving small trucks. ‘Everyone thought it would take me a year, but I finished in two months. I’m proud of that.’ Now Metin is working on his CE driving licence, for driving large trucks. ‘I am assuming I will pass that too in 25 hours, just like my C licence. After that, I will start working for a friend of mine. He drives internationally. I want to do the same. Going abroad and seeing new places. Eventually I want to get my ADR licence, so I can drive with hazardous substances. Maybe I will also stick a trailer behind the truck. I think it’s cool, you actually just drive a building on the street. That’s kick-ass!’

Self-confidence back through Werkse!

Metin advises anyone – who is down in the dumps but serious about the future – to talk to Werkse! ‘Werkse! is really ideal. They listen to you, think with you and help you with what you need. They paid for my education. I went through so much misery in four years that I no longer knew what it was like to have self-confidence. Werkse! gave me that back and I am eternally grateful to them for that.’