Over the past year, we have had a strong focus on welfare for newcomers. To this end, we started the Dream Agency initiative and now have several weekly activities. Monthly storytelling and theatre improvisation workshops, music nights twice a month, yoga twice a week and regular other activities and projects, such as group coaching.

We are very pleased with the cooperation we have established in recent months with the new Kleverbergh estate, in the Ooijpolder about five kilometres outside Nijmegen. We are going to organise special activities at that place to really dive into the depths, connect with yourself, unwind or, on the contrary, lead to creative excesses. Either way for special activities.

On 30 March next, we will organise our first long workshop there, aptly titled: Return to Rest. This workshop is intended for a wide audience. The language of instruction is English, but you can also attend with Dutch.

Does this sound good? You can find more information and register here!

It is with great enthusiasm that we tell you that, as Dar al Yasmin, we have found our own place!

While we have organised so many activities over the past few years, one wish always ran through our minds: we would like to have our own place. Ten years ago, together with others we started Gezellig. It was the time when the large emergency reception camp Heumensoord was still open. Some 3,000 refugees and almost as many Nijmegen citizens volunteering needed a place. It was made available by the Nijmegen municipality and still fulfils a good, heartwarming role in the lives of many newcomers.

After a trip to the Wijkfabriek (during the corona period), we have felt welcome again in Gezellig. We also organise various activities in the most suitable locations: Cultural Centre the Lindenberg, AZCs, neighbourhood centres. That also has its advantages.

But Gezellig is not really our own place. That’s why we are very happy with the Cellenbroederenhuis. It is a beautiful house in a wonderful location. The house is almost 700 years old and thus it helps us offer newcomers an experience of ‘being rooted’. Moreover, as a care and pilgrimage house, the house has a rich history of mental health care and connecting with yourself. The story of this house fits well with what we want to offer in the field of (mental) health.

We like to open the house to those who feel connected to us. You are welcome to drop by. We will be happy to tell you more about what we do with and for newcomers and perhaps we can work together in this.

 (photo by Edo Zaghla)

Your Nijmegen
What does Nijmegen look like when you look at it with new eyes? What catches your eye at first glance? Many visitors to the Your Nijmegen exhibition and readers of this catalogue are rooted Nijmegen residents. It is difficult to (re)experience that first glance.
When we started the Your Nijmegen project, the idea was: let newcomers share their image of Nijmegen. The year before, we had organised a project in which newcomers were portrayed. And because we like to work on equal two-way relationships, a logical thought was to organise it the other way round now.
The project really came to life for me when I saw a photo of a market in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital. A picture with colourful African clothes offered for sale there. An exotic photograph, one that arouses desire, that almost makes vibrate your other senses.
Would newcomers have a similar experience when they – coming from a far distant country – look around Nijmegen for the first time? Maybe they experience less the colours or the crowds, but what else? Or … …, what do you actually see when you look around Nijmegen for the first time? What stands out? Do you experience the city’s charm? Or is it mostly boring compared to where you come from?
Recently I asked several people who are new to Nijmegen. What stands out? Is it mainly the bicycles and the fish cart, as you might quickly think? Well, it isn’t. To my surprise, someone from an African country said: ‘narrow streets and cute little cars’. Oh yes of course, I thought, in second thought. You are used to those wide, dusty roads that are especially suitable for a Landrover. And ‘groups of smoking people on the street’ was another response. And someone else said: ‘I thought I was entering a communist country – the houses and everything outside is so planned’. Fortunately, she also said the air is so pure.
The Your Nijmegen project is an attempt to use photography to find out what newcomers experience at their first glance. The result is a number of beautiful photographs, which you can watch at our exhibition from 15 January 2025. 

It was a wonderful project, not only because of the result – beautiful photos – but because of the process: looking through a lens helps newcomers make the city their own.
And we are not going to do it through photography alone this time. We want to hear stories about Nijmegen, poems, paintings or other creative means of making the city our own. Throughout the centuries – starting with the Romans – Nijmegen has always been a city of newcomers. Newcomers have helped shape the city into what it is today. It is up to the new generation of newcomers to also have their share in what makes Nijmegen Nijmegen.

(post by Ronald Luyera; video-link of the speech is here)

Speech given on Africa Day 2024 (25 May) – organized by Dar al Yasmin in the Wijkfabriek Nijmegen.

My names are Ronald Luyera, A social Worker, population and health scientist, HRD, and programme analyst.

I would like to acknowledge the presence of the various dignitaries present here today; representatives from various organisations, HAN students, Dutch community, refugees, and everybody in their capacities.

Quote: Words of the great son of African Soil: Nkwame Nkrumah: “We are not Africans because we are born in Africa, but because Africa is born in us,”

This Africa Day; a day where we remember the founding of the African union. It is significant for celebrating the unity, diversity, African culture, and achievements of African countries.

We have many African countries represented here; Sierra Leone, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Liberia, Libya. The Netherlands! And finally all of us present here today! WAHALA!!!!

CHALLENGES OF AFRICA; We are all conversant with the problems happening on the African continent;

• Lack of democracy.
• Gender based violence
• Corruption
• Discrimination based on religion- sexual orientation etc
• Human rights violations
• Political persecution, arrests, torture, killings etc

WHAT DOES THE AFRICAN DAY MEAN TO ME? 3 THINGS

Preserving or cultural heritage;

Rich and diverse cultures of Africa with many languages, tribes, traditions, arts, norms, food. The beauty and the uniqueness of our culture.

It is important for us to promote and preserve our culture even when we are in diaspora. Preserving our African culture is important for us to diversify and become more inclusive to other cultures.  With the saying that “charity begins at home”

When we blend in the different cultures, it will lead to mutual understanding and respect.

Inspiring creativity and hope

We can draw on our skills and talents; it can take all forms of music, art, literature, painting, sports etc. let us embrace our and apply our talents, as creativity is powerful for personal and community development.

We have successful African entrepreneurs, scientists and artists- can act as our role models. Such as Dangote.

Refugee/ LGBT rights

Legal barriers: As you are aware majority of African countries are not tolerant to the LGBT. We all acknowledge that there are legal barriers faced by the LGBT.

It is important to include and protect the LGBT rights. Within the African communities and beyond.

In Uganda for example if you are found guilty for being LGBT, the maximum sentence is death, or 20 years in prison.  All LGBT organizations closed and their resources freezed. You can rent a house, you cannot operate a business.

Social barriers; many African communities are homophobic. Which homophobia was originally imported from the west by the colonialists and religion. In my country, if you are LGBT means you keep in closet. I AM AN LGBT INDIVIDUAL. I feel safe, protected and free, to be who I am. And after phases of trauma, I am becoming more empowered and am getting out of the HIDING. Let us come out of the shell to our true selves/identities. The Netherlands government will support us and give us a fair hearing. The community is already supportive.

CHALLENGES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM; true as refugees, we are faced with challenges here;

• Adopting to new culture
• Learning a new language
• Overcoming trauma

 We need to be resilient and support one another- team work.

• If there is an activity where we are invites, let us go and participate.
• We can make useful contribution to the society- Waseem will share with us how he is using his painting to benefit the homeless in the Netherlands.

ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT: we need support for greater advocacy and support for the LGBT rights both in Africa and globally. Support from organisations, the Netherlands government, from the EU, the UNCHR. I would like to thank the Netherlands government and the organisations, the communities here for the protection, the safety, the rights that we are enjoying here.

Conclusion.

The future is bright – where cultural diversity is celebrated, all individuals are respected and valued.

Take pride in your African Heritage while embracing your new lives in the Netherlands.

Advocate for policies and practices that promote equality and human rights, including refugees and LGBT rights.

There is an African proverb; “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African proverb

Ronald Luyera is social worker and co-worker at Dar al Yasmin foundation.

(post by Marieke Helmus; photo: Ibtehal and her son)

Marieke is impressed
Iftar, 29 March, annex of the St. Anthony of Padua Church, City Centre, Nijmegen

This atmospheric evening remains engraved in my memory by the enormous turnout of newcomers and the very enthusiastic efforts of everyone who contributed to this evening.

What a whoppers these are:
Chef Amr al Bokaie and his team, who cook a delicious meal for a hundred people.

Ibtehal Al-dholay, who previously worked as a TV presenter in Yemen, talks about the goal of the evening: ‘Connecting and strengthening each other’s well-being and health together.’ Her daughter, Tamar, takes her role as a nanny very seriously.

Feras Faysal, an international health specialist and pharmacist, is the coordinator of the evening. He works with my colleague Katrien Pouls.

Artist Mohamed Yousry and colleague Abdelrahman get the whole room in cheerful interaction with their quick passing on drawing assignment.

Mohammed and Raslan enrapture the audience with Islamic Nasheed and traditional Arabic songs.

Ronald, a social worker and living in the asylum seekers’ centre, helped to realise this large turnout through app groups and personal invitations.

The Iftar is organized by the Dar al Yasmin – Huis van Jasmijn, #groengezondeninbewegingnijmegen and Pharos foundation. Corné van Iersel, who founded the foundation together with Basima, tells the audience that it is an organization of and for newcomers who want to find their way in Nijmegen. Many newcomers give workshops and lessons to each other from this foundation. I have been working with Dar al Yasmin for four months to see if we can intertwine their offer on well-being and our offer on quitting smoking.

When the fast is broken, attendees give their opinions in different languages on what they need to reduce stress and improve their well-being. I tell the audience that I like to talk about smoking and stress. When I say that by smoking I also mean Shisha, Snuss and Vape, a laugh rolls through the room. Quite a few people come by for a good conversation.

My message: there is an enormous talent among refugees and status holders, who if they are given the space and resources can very well contribute to well-being and healthy living themselves.

Thanks for the beautiful photos, Luc Satter.

Marieke Helmus is the creator of the #Rookvrije Neighbourhood Approach by #Pharos and #GGDGHORNederland. She reports on an irregular basis about her encounters with #rookvrijewijkaanpakkers throughout the Netherlands. She is actively involved in the approach in various asylum seekers’ centres in Nijmegen.

What reasons do you have for getting out of bed in the morning?
Maybe you have obligations, such as a job. Or children; hopefully they are a reason to wake up with a smile. Perhaps the best reason is lust for life.

What about when all these reasons are missing? Or what if it doesn’t really matter what you do? Then it is good to pick yourself up and pick up your life. That is not so easy when the life you were used to leading no longer exists. When you are new to a country, when you know few people, have no network, no fixed habits.

We want to support newcomers, and especially refugees, in starting their lives. And feeling better about themselves.
We do this in different ways. By organizing and offering activities, for example creative workshops and yoga. And by providing information and tips on how to create a positive mindset or feel better about yourself.

We are also happy to offer newcomers a place as a volunteer. Because we believe that giving to others, being part of a community, and a sense of belonging are important to feel good. It’s nice to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning.