On the occasion of the campaign against prejudices, DUO for a JOB gives a voice to young people with an immigration background.
Alpha is 27 years old. Arrived from Guinea six years ago, he now lives in Belgium where he works as a computer scientist. Four years earlier, he joined DUO for a JOB and was accompanied by Gisèle, his mentor. Together, they went through difficult times, including one that remains etched in his memory: a contract that was torn apart overnight.
Dismissed for an “not correct” outfit
Alpha still remembers this contract that seemed to finally open a door. Representing a telephone brand in a multimedia store in Woluwe, he gives his all. Sales are great, he fits in perfectly with the team. But after only a few days, he receives an unexpected email: “Don't come back to work.”
The reason given? His pants, deemed “non-compliant.” An absurd explanation, especially considering customer satisfaction. For Alpha, there is no room for doubt: he was a victim of discrimination. “I asked myself what I had done wrong, but everything indicated that it was not a question of work.”
This is not the first time Alpha has faced discrimination. A few weeks earlier, a bus driver stopped his vehicle for more than ten minutes, until Alpha agreed to get off. The only explanation, uttered in front of silent passengers: “I'm not here to drive black people.” A bus trip that was supposed to take him... to a job interview. Unfortunately, he came too late and too upset. “I felt emotions that I had never experienced before, I was sick for 3 days.”
The support of a duo
Luckily Alpha was not alone. Gisèle was there. After the incident, she calls him, listens to him, helps him put into words what he experienced. “She said a sentence that stuck with me: “It's not you the problem but them. ”
With patience and kindness, Gisèle gives him back confidence. She reminds him that he has skills, he has value, and that he is not defined by the prejudices of others. “Thanks to DUO for a JOB and the support of Gisèle, I have learned that I cannot control the reactions of others, but that I can maintain control of my own. It gave me strength.”
“I am proud of myself”
Today, he looks back on his path with pride: “I am very proud of myself and of all my career since I arrived in Belgium. The duo with Gisèle and Marine (coordinator of DUO for a JOB) had a very significant impact. I wouldn't be where I am today without this duo.”
He now works in the IT department at ONEM and says he enjoys being at the service of others. He looks to the future with confidence and sends a message of resilience for all those who are experiencing these difficulties.
Are you a victim of discrimination? Contact Actiris or Unia.
Discover our campaign”Who is it?”
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