Orhan Celikkollu works as a SAP consultant at Ctac. Patricia van Schie recently interviewed him for the magazine Venster, whose theme was The Power of Diversity.

Please note: this article was translated using a translator app

Orhan Celikkollu and his family left Turkey for political reasons in 2019 and have been living in Eindhoven since 2020. Previously they only came to the Netherlands for holidays and business trips, this time it was different. “We arrived with only two backpacks. Of course the beginning was not easy, but we got our lives back in order. We have a house again, new friends and good jobs. My wife and son speak Dutch well, but I still find it a bit difficult.”

 In Turkey, Orhan works as a logistics employee and he can use that experience as a volunteer during his stay in the Cranendonck asylum seeker center. He leads the development of a new logistics system for care products for residents. This saves money and reduces plastic consumption. “It's nice to give something back in this way. In the Netherlands it is important and valuable to volunteer. We also do volunteer work here in Eindhoven.”

 Orhan and his wife experience that a network helps them find a job: "It was difficult to be invited for interviews without references." His wife finds her job through a contact at a volunteer organization in Eindhoven. Orhan finds his current employer Ctac via Refugee Talent Hub. After a number of workshops and training, he is linked to the IT company. “I was an SAP user in Turkey, now I work as a SAP consultant I like it. In Turkey you will not often see a summer staff party where the CEO stands behind the barbecue.”

 Born: Turkey, Kanya

 Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Master's degree in international relations

 Occupation: SAP consultant at Ctac

 In NL: since 2019

 Fog: The weather of Antalya and the Mediterranean Sea

 Picked up in the Netherlands: Kibbeling: “if possible, I order a portion”

 Source: Window