On the occasion of the campaign against prejudices in the job market “Who is it?” , DUO for a JOB meets Dena.
Artist, comedian, Belgian, Iranian, Iranian, queer, queer, perfectly bilingual... Dena does not fit into any box.
In a long interview shot with us, she looks back on her career, her doubts, and the discriminations that still exist in society today.
Iran as a legacy, the stage as ambition
The child of parents who lived in exile from Iran, she grew up in a family full of love, but marked by the expectations of parents and the challenges of migration. In this context, school was a real breath of fresh air for her.
She also highlights the impact of one of her high school teachers, a mentor figure.
“I will never forget this sentence from my teacher: 'One day you will do something special... '. He believed in me.”
- Dena
It was this confidence that upset her as a teenager and allowed her to pursue an artistic career.
Is the scene his dream job? No, Dena wanted to become a neurologist and did a year in medicine... a bit to reassure parents. She finally made her way.
Discrimination, a very real mental burden
During the conversation, Dena emotionally discusses the reality of prejudices.
Faced with the TV report on Djenabou, a young woman accompanied by DUO for a JOB who has suffered discrimination during her job search, Dena does not hide her sadness.
“It breaks my heart to see Djenabou refused because of her name... The companies concerned should be ashamed. More than ever, we need to invest in awareness campaigns!”
- Dena
Dena has not been spared from these obstacles: 90 applications to find housing, microaggressions on the street with her family, etc. Lucidly, she recognizes that young people with an immigration background today carry a heavier mental load and unfortunately have to provide more energy than others to move forward.
To be or to have... a mentor?
Despite these observations, the messages that Dena wants to transmit are deeply resilient and... full of humor
📌 Do not remain silent in the face of microaggressions
📌 Do what you love, despite the difficulties
📌 Using humor as a strategy
📌... Show your motivation, even when you don't check all the boxes!
Supporting the mission of DUO for a JOB is obvious for the comedian. She believes that putting more experienced people, with a career in Belgium, in contact with young people from immigration backgrounds helps enormously in building a better future.
“When I was younger, I would have loved to have had a mentor from DUO for a JOB!”
- Dena
And for the future? She hopes to become a mentor in turn! In any case, at DUO for a JOB, she is always welcome.
Watch the interview with Dena in our exclusive video.
Listen to the podcast here
Share our “Who is it?” campaign.
Are you a victim of discrimination? Contact Actiris or Unia.
