Sumaia is eager to start her new life in the Netherlands and knows one thing for sure: she wants to study at university. However, she could use some help choosing the right course, finding part-time work, and practicing the Dutch language. We pair Sumaia with Martin, a 63-year-old mentor who has worked in the laboratory at Star-SHL for 25 years.
The duo gets to work on a future plan for Sumaia. They attend an open day at Breda University of Applied Sciences together, and the choice is made: she will study Logistics Management. Sumaia applies and is accepted. In a few months, her dream will become a reality: she is going to university! Until then, she can focus on her integration and improving her Dutch. This is something Martin can help her with effectively. They practice a lot together, and it is paying off. "She has made a leap forward with her Dutch. She no longer switches to English," says Martin. But Martin hasn't just helped his mentee improve her language skills, Sumaia explains: "He has helped me to have a positive outlook on life and taught me not to give up. When I think I can't do something, he encourages me to do it anyway."
For Martin, the time spent with Sumaia was an eye-opener: "Through contacts like this, you get a broader perspective on the situation of someone with a migration background. Things that seem self-evident to you often aren't for someone else." And the future? Sumaia is looking forward to it positively: "It's still a bit uncertain, but I'm positive because I'm going to start my studies. I've been waiting for that for a very long time and I'm really looking forward to it!"
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