My name is Jihan, I am Kurdish, from Syria, and have been living in the Netherlands since December 2016.

The last day I was in Syria, I was still in hospital at work. That was on December 17, 2012. Two months earlier, I had to leave my home and live with my parents, because where I lived was full of government shootings and bombings.

When I saw people coming in life-threatening conditions at work, in the hospital, I knew right away that it was time to leave. On the same day, I decided to leave, to flee, which everyone understood because of the unsafe situation.

Leaving my home and work meant that I lost everything and had to start over.

After a long journey, I ended up in the Netherlands, and here I had to fight again to find my place in this society. In order to find a job, I completed job interview training and I also made a nice resume. Eventually, through my resume, which my social counselor had created, I was hired as an administrative assistant. That was my first paid job in the Netherlands. Each status holder in The Hague gets a contact person for 1 year as a social counselor who helps them until they are able to cope themselves. And my social counselor is a very sweet lady who helped me everywhere; including my studies at school in The Hague. I am forever grateful to my social counselor, Saskia Santoso, as well as all the volunteers who are trying to help people in the Netherlands.

After graduating from Facility Management at The Hague University, I applied to Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland (VWN). By now, I had been volunteering with them for 3 years. At VWN, I had the opportunity to start as an office manager and I also supervise 36 volunteers who work as interpreters.

I've always wanted to be an entrepreneur. And why started with Refugees Uitzendbureau?!

Every time I read a vacancy that states that you need to have an excellent command of the Dutch language in words and writing, it took me away from hoping to apply. I recognize that so often in other refugees, and would like to help others find work for them that uses their talents and contributes to their integration and personal growth.