Going to the dentist in a foreign country where you do not speak the language, furnishing a new home: refugees are faced with all kinds of challenges, which a buddy can support. Read more about the experiences of refugees and the story of buddy Ton.
Health
Hi,
I am Murfat.
When I had just moved to Ridderkerk, I got a bad toothache.
VluchtelingenWerk had already selected a dentist for me.
Because I hardly spoke Dutch, I thought it was quite scary to go alone.
My buddy came along.
The dentist examined my teeth and explained very well what had to be done.
I had to go to the hospital, to a dental surgeon.
My buddy made the appointment and also came with me to the hospital.
That made it all a lot easier.
Although I still don’t really like to visit the dentist.
Income
Hi,
I am Mahdia.
I have been living in Ridderkerk ever since 2016.
When I fled from my homecountry , I didn’t know where I would end up.
I am happy that I received status in the Netherlands.
Because I am single , I had to organise everything on my own.
The Gemeente Ridderkerk and VluchtelingenWerk have helped me a lot.
A lot had to be arranged with all kinds of requests for income and expenses.
But also for my studies for a good and smooth integration.
I was very motivated to get my ‘inburgering’ done as soon as possible and to find work.
I am very happy that I ran into my buddy Marijke.
Marijke is an elderly lady from Ridderkerk who helped me tremendously with everything.
She helped me with my homework.
We thought about what kind of work would suit me.
She helped me find volunteer work.
She even taught me to write letters of application.
She stimulates me and challenges me in moments that I see no way out.
And sometimes my buddy just comes for a cuppa and I spoil her with all kinds of goodies.
Housing
Hi,
I am Ammanuel.
After having fled from my country I lived in Ridderkerk for four years and than….
Following permission from the IND for family reunification, I could embrace my wife and three children again.
You understand what a great moment that was for all of us.
At the same time, it presented us with a tremendous challenge.
We had to move from my small apartment to a familyhouse within a month.
I am very grateful to the Gemeente Ridderkerk and the housing association for what they got done in a short period.
But I am even more grateful to Willemijn and Joop. That wonderful Ridderkerk couple are my buddies. I don’t know what my wife and I should have done without them. They literally thought of everything that needed to be done in our new home. What had to be bought. And what we could spend. And where it was affordable.
And not only did they think about it, they rolled up their sleeves themselves. And they also found friends and acquaintances ready to help us.
Thanks to their commitment and judgement within three weeks after we got the key to the house my wife and kids could move from the AZC to Ridderkerk. And we slept for the first time in our new home, as a family, wonderfully together.
Education
Hi,
I am Jonathan.
I have been in the Netherlands with my parents for over a year now. We live in Ridderkerk and I like it here.
I had already attended school before we came to the Netherlands. It is my dream to become a medical doctor.
I learned to speak Dutch quite quickly. That is mainly thanks to the efforts of my teacher. But the teacher says it’s also because I work hard. What really stimulates me is that a friend of my father, a buddy, helps me with my homework.
And if there is a 10-minute appointment at school, he comes along because my parents donot speak Dutch very well as yet. After the appointment, at home he explains to my father and mother what the teacher said and what I should pay attention to when learning.
I am very happy with his help. It is not always fun to be an asylum seeker. Sometimes I feel very alone. I know I have to work even harder than the Dutch children. I am glad that someone helps me with that. Now I don’t have to give up my dream.
Sports
Hi
I am Yosief.
I am eight years old. A year ago I fled from my home-country.
Together with my father, my mother and my two sisters.
There is a war going on in my home-country and our house has been bombed.
Recently we have found a home in Ridderkerk.
I go to school in Ridderkerk. There are more refugee-children at that school. Unfortunately they donot live in the neighbourhood where I live. In my vicinity there are only Dutch children.
I love to play football. At times the children in the neighbourhood invite me to play. I donot always understand them and they donot always understand me. And sometimes they just send me away.
There is a Ridderkerk gentleman that helps my father an my mother, uncle Jan. They call him ‘buddy’ but he is really a friend that wants to help.
Uncle Jan took me to a footballclub here in Ridderkerk. Quite near where I live. He asked them if I could become a member of that club and how much that would cost.
It was all possible and the cost we could pay with our ‘Ridderkerkpas’, a moneycard that we got from the municipality of Ridderkerk.
The first few times uncle Jan came along when I went to play football. And he spoke with my trainer. But after a while I went all on my own. And I am really enjoying it a lot.
I have learned so much that the children in my neighbourhood now often ask me to play with them. And I like that. Although I still donot always understand them. And they still donot always understand me.
Story of buddy Ton
Hi,
I am Ton.
As a buddy of quite a few status holders, I can call myself an experience expert.
Being a buddy is a challenge.No one is the same and therefore one status holder is completely different from the other status holder.
One person needs a little push in arranging all kinds of things himself, another is much more dependent and a third person needs a nice chat.
I mentored a young lad (he fled Eritrea at the age of 17) who was highly motivated and enthusiastic. He picked things up just like that. Magnificent!
I was also asked to act as a buddy for an elderly gentleman who had lived in Ridderkerk for some time. He knew it all and we didn’t really click. Together we came tot the same conclusion and soon we parted as good friends.It is certainly not the intention that the buddy solves all problems for the status holder. There are plenty of authorities you can engage. SIR is one of them.
To be a buddy, you must not be shy. A broad interest in people and their situation helps.
You discover the cultural differences and the value of other cultures.
It has enriched me enormously.