'I am learning Dutch better and better thanks to my colleagues.'

Akid Ibrahim (32 years old) has a development position at Werkse!"I wanted to work in cleaning because I could talk a lot with colleagues. That would improve my Dutch," Akid tells director Cor van der Wel about learning and working in the Netherlands.

"My Dutch isn't very good," says Akid. He's been living in the Netherlands for about three years now. Before that, he lived in Turkey for seven years after fleeing the war in Syria. Cor, on the other hand, thinks his Dutch is perfectly fine. "After three years, I wouldn't be able to speak Arabic as well as you can speak Dutch now."

Features
Akid is integrating and taking language lessons. But also the work at Werkse! is part of the integration process. Akid: "By interacting a lot with colleagues, I'm learning Dutch better and better. I could choose between working for the postal service, landscaping, and cleaning. I chose the latter because it allows me to talk to others." Cor is curious where Akid cleans. Akid: "I spend a lot of time at the laundry on Gantel and I also clean the gymnasiums at a secondary school. I'm a hard worker and I get my work done quickly."

Tailor
In Syria and Turkey, Akid worked as a tailor, but he'd rather not do that anymore, he tells Cor. Cor completely understands: "Those are long days, indoors. What would you like to do then?" Akid just got his driver's license and would like to continue with that, for example, as a driver delivering packages or transporting people. Cor can also imagine working in the Green Department for a while. "There's a lot of driving there too. It's a good way to gain experience."

Thinking
Cor asks Akid how he's enjoying his work. "The people here are nice, and it's 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 enjoy repairing 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 his spare time to stay in touch with his family abroad.

FaceTime
Akid's parents still live in Syria. He hasn't seen them in person for a long time, but luckily he's been able to see them through FaceTime. "My brothers live in eastern Germany. I'm on vacation in a month, and I'm going to visit them. I'm really looking forward to it." 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 read more about Delft. And I really like it there."