Shoulder to shoulder: from the mountains of Afghanistan to a permanent contract!
Luc guides Hamidullah to a flying start as a metalworker
Upon arriving in Belgium, Hamidullah, who is from Afghanistan, wanted to find a stable job to rebuild his life. In Afghanistan, he worked as a paragliding instructor: high in the sky, full of freedom and perspective. But after arriving in Antwerp, he quickly hit a harsh reality. The labor market and the bureaucracy felt like an impenetrable maze, and the path to employment proved to be riddled with obstacles. He was stuck in insecure temporary contracts with shady employers.
Yet, Hamidullah refused to give up. He wanted to move forward and decided to seek support. That is how he met his mentor, Luc, a project manager at Herbosch-Kiere (Eiffage Group). Luc quickly became a true supporter. Hamidullah explains that there is a beautiful expression for this in Persian: "Shāna ba shāna" or "shoulder to shoulder." That is exactly what Luc means to Hamidullah. He believes unconditionally in Hamidullah's potential and has stood firmly by his side from day one.
Together, they tackled the search step by step. They explored his skills and ambitions, searched purposefully for the right vacancies, and prepared intensively for job interviews. Thanks to this close collaboration, Hamidullah's self-confidence grew every week.
A new passion and a warm family business
The real engine behind this success is Hamidullah's resilience and motivation. He immediately put feedback into practice and showed tremendous drive. The efforts paid off: Hamidullah got off to a flying start in the technical sector and began working as a metalworker and bender.
The result is a permanent contract at Symons, a warm family business in Sint-Katelijne-Waver. A brilliant victory that deserves to be celebrated: and what better way than with a breathtaking paragliding session in the hills of the Ardennes?
At the end of the mentoring program, Hamidullah is standing firmly on his own two feet. He has found stability, developed his skills, and built a future he is proud of. A success story in which perseverance and warm, intergenerational support go hand in hand.
“I was new to Belgium. During a difficult time, Luc stood shoulder to shoulder with me. He supported me, believed in me, and that changed everything.”
- Hamidullah, mentee
“As a mentor, you provide a nudge in the right direction, but it is the resilience and drive of the young person that makes the real difference. Shoulder to shoulder, you can achieve so much.”
- Luc, mentor
Since 2013, DUO for a JOB has guided more than 11,000 young people with migration backgrounds toward employment by matching them with volunteer mentors over the age of 50 (job coaches). With this innovative approach to employment mentoring, 70% of these young people find a stable job or training program.
DUO for a JOB is a 100% free job coaching service. Sign up for an information session in Ghent, Antwerp, Aalst, Sint-Niklaas, Brussels, Turnhout, or Mechelen.
Curious about DUO for a JOB? Discover our FAQ here.
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