'Because of my colleagues, I am learning Dutch better and better.'

Akid Ibrahim (32) has a development job at Werkse! ‘I wanted to work in cleaning because I can talk to colleagues a lot then. That improves my Dutch.’ Akid tells director Cor van der Wel about learning and working in the Netherlands.

‘My Dutch is not very good,’ says Akid. He has been living in the Netherlands for about three years now. Before that, he lived in Turkey for seven years after fleeing the war from Syria. Cor, on the contrary, thinks Dutch is fine. ‘I wouldn’t be able to speak Arabic as well after three years as you can speak Dutch now.’

Opportunities
Akid is civicising and taking language classes. But working at Werkse! is also part of the civic integration. Akid: ‘By interacting a lot with the colleagues, I am learning Dutch better and better. I could choose between working for the post, green and cleaning. I chose the latter because it allows you to talk to others a lot.’ Cor is curious to know where Akid cleans. Akid: ‘I am in the laundrette on the Gantel a lot and I also clean the gymnasiums of a comprehensive school. I am a hard worker and finish quickly.’

Tailor
In Syria and in Turkey, Akid worked as a tailor, but he would rather not do that anymore, he tells Cor. Cor totally understands that: ‘Those are long days and indoors. What would you like to do then?’ Akid just got his driving licence and would like to continue with that, for example as a driver delivering parcels or transporting people. Cor can imagine he will also work in the Green department for a while. ‘There’s a lot of driving there too. You can get nice experience.’

Thinking
Cor asks how Akid likes working. ‘The people here are nice and it is important to earn your own salary. I like being busy. If I have nothing to do, I just sit and think. So that’s why I do my work, learn Dutch and do my best. At home, I like to repair technical things, like broken phones. I also go to the gym twice a week. And, of course, I have to do my housework.’ He uses the time he has left to keep in touch with his relatives abroad

Facetime
Akid’s parents still live in Syria. He has not seen them in real life for a long time, fortunately he has seen them via Facetime. ‘My brothers live in eastern Germany. In a month’s time I’ll have a holiday, then I’ll visit them. I’m really looking forward to that.’ Cor is curious how Akid ended up in Delft. Akid: ‘I didn’t want to live in a big city. I don’t like crowds. So I looked on Google and there I read more about Delft. And I like it.’