Welkom in Utrecht is celebrating its 10th anniversary!

Normally, we mainly share photos of participants and volunteers during our activities, but it’s high time we introduced ourselves!
Today, it’s ‘team central’s turn, with the people who are not attached to a specific location: Rebecca de Kuijer, Fatima el Kaddouri, Carolien Labib, and Ilse Miltenburg.

Rebecca is co-founder and director of Welkom in Utrecht. “It’s impossible to make a new home somewhere and really participate if you don’t feel welcome. I’m very proud that our organization has been contributing positively to this for ten years now. Sometimes I hear that people who got to know each other through us are still friends, or that someone has found work through a contact at Welkom in Utrecht. That makes my day.” Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Fatima joined Welkom in Utrecht six years ago as a finance officer. Her responsibilities have grown along with the organization. She also always takes on extra tasks, such as arranging furniture and special excursions. “Welkom in Utrecht is dynamic and really adds value for people. Working here is very rewarding for me. I contribute to a better world, to reducing inequality between people.”

Rebecca and Fatima feel that Welcome to Utrecht means a lot not only to others, but also to themselves. “Through this work, I have met many people who, with their different backgrounds and life stories, have made me wiser and more open-minded,” says Rebecca. “It helps me see what’s really important in life.” Fatima adds: “It changes you as a person. You learn to think differently, to see things from different perspectives. And it also helps you understand yourself better.”

Ilse joined the team a few months ago as an administrative assistant. Her role does not involve direct contact with participants, but she finds it rewarding to work for an organization that makes a real positive difference. “We get a lot of different people here, from diverse cultural backgrounds. That’s not something I experience in my private life, so I really enjoy it. The atmosphere here is friendly and loving. “

Carolien enthusiastically started as team manager in October, a new position that fits in with the growth of Welkom in Utrecht. “Every day, I see the enormous commitment of our employees. They give personal attention to people and to what someone really needs. Almost every day, I hear a story that makes me think: how wonderful! For example, a boy who had experienced terrible things during his flight told me that he finally felt like a human being again here. That touches me deeply. I now see up close how tangible the impact of Welkom in Utrecht is for refugees. It makes me proud to see how hospitable the city of Utrecht is.”