With self-confidence a refugee becomes human again

Syrian Hussein Alzribi is a lawyer, former refugee, and entrepreneur through and through. During his time in a Greek refugee camp, he brought fellow refugees together in a self-organized community for more than 3000 refugees. Once in the Netherlands, he was traumatized and disillusioned. With the help of Werkse! and Scope, he picked up the thread again and started Refugee Jumpstart Coaching, an organization that coaches refugees and gives them confidence in finding a new life. At the end of October, they won the ICF Global Award for Social Impact. "With small steps, I try to positively influence the world."

After spending a year in a refugee camp in Athens, the now 35-year-old Hussein arrived in the Netherlands in 2017. He immediately began learning Dutch and looking for a job, but soon realized that his Syrian law studies were of little use in the Netherlands. "You really have to speak Dutch very well and know Dutch law to be a good lawyer here," Hussein explains. He decided to return to his studies and was accepted by universities in Amsterdam, Groningen, and Tilburg, but doubts about himself, his own abilities, and his command of the Dutch language prevented him from pursuing a degree.

A life before and after the flight
He eventually ended up in Delft, on welfare and came into contact with Werkse!At first, communication was a bit awkward. “I realized I wanted to start my own business and help other refugees. Not with basic necessities, but with self-confidence. There's life before and after the flight, and people change during that time. Of course, there are traumatic events, but because you leave everything behind, you're also completely dependent on others for a long time. Many refugees have the idea that Europeans are ahead of them and superior to them. This makes it very difficult to integrate well, find a job at a decent level, and become an equal citizen of the Netherlands. I wanted to set up a company that gives refugees their self-esteem back, so that we can all give something back to the countries that helped us.”

Building self-confidence at Cordaid
The first contact person of Werkse! Hussein's partner didn't quite understand his plan and wanted him to just find a job. "She thought everything I suggested would be too difficult for me and thought I should start easy and work my way up. I had such a clear goal that I didn't want to go along with that." Eventually, Hussein got a different contact, Claire. "She was fantastic and understood exactly what I wanted and helped point me in the right direction. Thanks to her, I was able to do an internship at Cordaid, which was amazing and really helped rebuild my self-confidence and sharpen my plans for the future." Hussein also volunteered for the food bank, which brought him into close contact with many Dutch people. "This was a crucial step in my personal growth. That's where I met Anki and Fred Smith, who made me feel like I was coming home. Anki is a coach and helped me manage my emotions and clarify my ambitions."

No self-confidence without basic facilities
Ultimately, Hussein connected with Scope through Claire. That too proved to be a good fit. In 2020, he signed a contract with Scope, and a year later, together with his American business partner, Bev Weise, he launched Refugee Jumpstart Coaching. The organization operates globally and consists of a network of more than sixty coaches from various countries who support refugees in rebuilding their lives and careers.

Hussein himself still lives in Delft, but is temporarily back in Athens, where he's training and coaching refugees in the midst of the action, helping them rebuild their careers. "It's important that basic facilities are good. Refugees often live in survival mode for long periods of time. Am I safe, do I have food and drink, and do I have a roof over my head? These are the first basic needs people worry about daily. People sometimes complain about the Dutch government's refugee policy, and while I don't yet know what the new cabinet will bring, the situation in many countries is truly worse. In Greece, for example, the government doesn't help people find housing. How are you ever supposed to feel safe then?"

Winner of the ICF Global Award for Social Impact
That's why Hussein launched a pilot program last year. He provided several refugees with housing for a year. He received subsidies from around the world for this. "Once people have a stable situation, there's room for peace and development, and that's where I can make a difference." The impact his organization is making hasn't gone unnoticed. At the end of October, the organization won the ICF Global Award for Social Impact. "It's fantastic that we won that award. Hopefully, this will raise our profile and grants, and allow us to help even more people. But the award is also a personal motivation. It's special to receive recognition for my work in this way."

Hussein is immediately channeling this newfound motivation into another project: "Soon I'll be launching an entrepreneurship program for refugees in Greece, helping them build sustainable businesses and achieve financial independence." With the prize under his belt and plenty of inspiration for new projects, Hussein is optimistic about the future: "Now that I've regained my self-confidence, I'm bursting with ideas to help others. It's fantastic to see people start believing in themselves again after years of hardship. If they then also find a good job and become happy, my day is made."