Young asylum seeker in Hof van Twente shares journey of resilience and hope
Taha, an 18-year-old asylum seeker from Syria, shares his inspiring story of adapting to life in the Netherlands while living in emergency shelter. Despite challenges, he pursues education, work, and dreams of a brighter future, highlighting the resilience of young refugees in Hof van Twente.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Taha |
| Age | 18 |
| Origin | Syria |
| Shelter Locations | Markelo (75 asylum seekers), Delden (50 unaccompanied minors) |
| Education | Assistant Service, Care and Welfare course at ROC van Twente, Hengelo |
| Employment | Hospitality industry |
| Residence Status | Awaiting clarity |
| Municipality | Hof van Twente |
| Managing Organization | COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) |
The municipality of Hof van Twente collaborates with the COA to provide emergency shelter for asylum seekers, ensuring their basic needs are met while fostering integration through community engagement and support. The COA plays a central role in managing reception locations and facilitating contact between residents and local communities.
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A personal story from emergency shelter
Currently, there are 2 emergency shelter locations for asylum seekers in the municipality of Hof van Twente. In an empty former primary school in Markelo, there is temporarily space for 75 asylum seekers. The residents have various ages and nationalities. The shelter location in Delden at the Aparthotel has 50 shelter places and these are specifically for unaccompanied minors (AMV). Both locations are managed by the COA. At the COA locations in Hof van Twente, there is regular contact with the neighborhood through a frequent residents' meeting. The municipality also always joins these gatherings. In addition, the COA also organizes activities on the national neighbors' day in September. Usually in the form of an open house. To better understand the world of these young people living in shelter, the municipality spoke with the 18-year-old Taha.
In conversation with Taha
Taha: “I feel safe here and can finally work on my future”. The 18-year-old Taha has been living in the Netherlands for a year and a half. He came alone from Syria to the Netherlands at the age of 16, in search of safety and a new future. Meanwhile, he is following the Assistant Service, Care and Welfare course at the ROC van Twente in Hengelo and lived with other young people in the shelter center in Delden (location Unaccompanied Minors, AMV) and recently in Hengelo. Despite a turbulent past, Taha mainly radiates positivity and perseverance.
“When I came to the Netherlands, I didn't speak a word of Dutch or English,” he says with a smile. “I could only speak Arabic. But I wanted to learn. Now I can just talk to people, at school, during my work and with my supervisors. That makes me proud.” In addition to his education, Taha works in the hospitality industry, where he helps with deliveries and preparing food. He doesn't have much free time, but when he can, he likes to go swimming or play football with friends. “Sport helps me relax,” he says. “And I also learn a lot from the people around me. They help me with the language and I learn new words every day.” What strikes him most about the Netherlands? “The people are friendly and open. Everyone is equal, and I feel safe here. That's something I no longer knew in Syria.” He also finds the bicycles remarkable: “Everyone here has two or three bikes, for work or for hobby. I found that very funny at first!”
His story is impressive. The journey to the Netherlands was heavy and dangerous. “I was on a small boat for 28 hours with 150 people. No water, no food, fortunately I made it. And now I want to make something good of my life.”
Despite all the uncertainties – he is still waiting for clarity about his residence status – he remains positive: “I think about my future every day. I want to get my diploma, continue studying and later help others. Maybe in care, or as a social worker. When I have my driver's license, I can also work more and become independent.”
Taha emphasizes that many young people in the AZC are working hard on their future. “We all want to learn, work and build a good life. Sometimes people only hear negative stories about refugees, but that's not fair. Most young people want to contribute something. We are motivated, friendly and we do our best.”
His biggest dream? “To get a diploma and find a permanent place. And hopefully one day see my family again. Until then, I will keep going, think positively and work hard. Because I know: if I do my best, it will be okay.”
Taha shows what resilience means: with an open mind, a lot of humor and a big heart, he works step by step towards a safe future in the Netherlands.