Rabeh came to DUO for a JOB with a clear mission: to become a women’s hairdresser 💇‍♀️. In his home country of Syria, he already started an education, but was unable to finish it due to the war. Once in the Netherlands, he is determined to keep pursuing this dream. We pair him up with mentor Joke and together they go on a voyage of discovery. Not only to a suitable hairdressing school, but also in Rabeh’s new city: Rotterdam. As a true Rotterdammer, Joke passionately shows her mentor around her city. From cycling along the Hef bridge to climbing the top of the Laurenskerk, even OPEN Rotterdam made a video of it! 🤩

But it is not only about having fun for this duo. They visit Open Doors Days together and little by little get clear on the steps Rabeh needs to take to make his dream come true. The first big step is soon taken: Rabeh has started hairdressing school at Zadkine 🔥 He is very happy to have met Joke: “I learned a lot from Joke. Thanks to her I am now playing soccer again and have started an education. I am new in the Netherlands and that was especially difficult the first year. Joke advised me about everything”.

Joke also looks back on a valuable time with Rabeh: “I also learned a lot from Rabeh. Just the fact that you leave your country and come to the Netherlands. You run into so much, but Rabeh always remains positive. He is open and friendly, everyone can learn from that. Actually you should all be paired with a newcomer. It is an enrichment of your life.”