On Friday, November 17, a party was celebrated in Den Bosch. At Essent's head office, to be precise. There we celebrated that Refugee Talent Hub has helped more than 1,000 professionals find a job or internship in the past six years.

Please note: this article was translated using a translator app

This special day was also my first day working for Refugee Talent Hub. With a cup of coffee and a delicious Bossche Bol in hand, I met newcomers who had come to this afternoon full of anticipation, hoping to perhaps meet a potential employer during the subsequent networking moment.

 The afternoon started with a warm welcome from Resi Becker, CEO of Essent, who warmly received everyone at the head office. We were touched by Hord Wbi, Change Manager at Rabobank. He took us into his story and encouraged us: “As one person or one company you might not be able to change the world, but you can start by changing the world of one person. Start the change, be the change.” Samira Belkaïd, Brand Builder at Ben & Jerry's, shared the inspiring story behind the Sunny Honey Home product: a delicious ice cream made by entrepreneurs with a refugee background, with proceeds going to refugee-led start-ups.

 On to 100,000

 While everyone present was allowed to taste the ice cream, Wilma Roozenboom, director at Refugee Talent Hub, took the floor. She emphasized the special milestone of 1,000 successful jobs. A reason to celebrate, but also to look ahead with new ambitions.

 “A thousand may sound like a lot, but it is not enough," Wilma shared. According to UNHCR, there were 110,000 refugees in the Netherlands at the end of 2022, excluding Ukrainians. More than half of status holders and Ukrainians do not yet have a paid job. "In the current In the labor market, this is absurd - a missed opportunity on a macroeconomic, business economic and human level.”

 “There are reasons for this, but we show that it can be done differently. After all, we are here to celebrate 1,000 jobs. It's not easy. Sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back. But it is possible. And that includes new ambitions. Hence my call today: on to 100,000.”

 Workshops and networking

 After this opening it was time to take action. All kinds of workshops were held. For example, Bunchmark provided the fascinating 'Personal Branding' session and Prowareness allowed participants to work on their networking skills during the 'Unleash your potential' workshop. Workshops were offered for newcomers looking for work, for newcomers who already had a job, and there was a session specifically aimed at employers.

 The highlight of the afternoon followed: a networking moment where various employers were present. The networking skills just learned were put into practice by talking to employers. The employers enthusiastically entered into discussions to discover new talent and to help newcomers find a job that suits them.

 Pride

 For me this day was a very beautiful experience. I spoke to some newcomers who found a new challenge through Refugee Talent Hub and wanted to celebrate this milestone with us. I also met a number of employers who spoke about the positive energy during the workshops and during the afternoon. And I saw an enthusiastic and dedicated team, who enjoyed making this day a great success. If this wasn't a good first day at work, I don't know what is!

 I am already proud to be part of this team. And I look forward to working together to help even more professionals find a job or internship. The ambition is clear: on to 100,000!

 This will warm you up: the aftermovie

 Read more about: Sunny Honey Home

 Read more about: Hord Wbi