Their names are Siham , Gebril , Ibrahima , Gitana and Dieuleveut .
They are young, full of skills, potential, and experience, eager to use them to fully participate in Belgian social and economic life.
They have very different backgrounds and stories, but one thing in common: they encountered obstacles in their job search because they are young and from immigrant backgrounds. Despite everything, they remain determined to find their place and pursue their dreams!
Belgium has set an employment rate target of 80% by 2030. To achieve this ambitious goal, the inclusion of young people of foreign origin in the labor market is a key lever. In 2020, the National Bank of Belgium concluded that immigration flows over the past five years have had a positive impact on Belgian GDP , and that this contribution heavily depends on immigrants' ability to access the labor market. In the private sector, the link between a company's financial performance and its commitment to diversity is now also well-established.
So, what if we stopped depriving ourselves of this fabulous source of creative and productive energy? What if we offered all these young people future prospects? What if we built a tomorrow where everyone has their place, regardless of age, origin, or beliefs?
Episode #1 - Ibrahima In this episode, Ibrahima recounts his forced departure from Guinea, his arrival in Brussels in May 2016, and his strong desire to finally achieve his dream… and then, the obstacles he faced: How to find the right path? How to understand the huge administrative puzzle? How to exist and finally find his place?
“There were so many things I didn't know; it's not the same system as back home... Coming directly to another country like that, you'll be completely lost. You need someone to explain how things work to get by, because they are two totally different worlds. .”
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Episode #2 - Sihame For Sihame, with a master's degree in hand and unwavering determination, everything should have gone smoothly. And yet… In this episode, she recounts the many obstacles that delayed her ambitions and undermined her self-confidence.
“Our families used to tell us: ‘you have to do more than others, you have to work harder than others’… But we didn't believe them, we were naive!”
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Episode #3 - Dieuleveut Forced to leave Congo, Dieuleveut had to leave behind his family, his wife, and his newborn. Full of skills, desire, and energy, he must endure a painful wait for a chance to one day see his wife and son again and build his future in Belgium.
“We've studied, we love this country. It's my second home, and we want to contribute to its development in one way or another. Somehow, we can't give what we have. ”
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Episode #4 - Gitana With a doctorate, Gitana never imagined that leaving Brazil for Belgium would require her to completely reinvent herself to earn a living. She recounts the difficulties of navigating the labyrinth of diploma recognition procedures alone…
“The process was harder than I thought. I put diploma recognition aside and took the quickest job during the pandemic… It was a cleaning job. ”
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Episode #5 - Gebril Trying to find a job or training when you don't have a good command of the language of the country you live in is an uphill battle. This is what Gebril, originally from Libya, recounts, as he had to start from scratch upon arriving in Belgium. How to navigate the administrative maze? Where to find the (right) information?
“When I received my refugee status, I thought the difficulties were over, but I realized that the real challenges begin after that! ”
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