The 50 boys staying at a COA location in Biddinghuizen are all new to the Netherlands, having been relocated here after arriving in Ter Apel. It’s their first time going back to school after months—or even years—of perilous journeys. And for some, it’s the first time they’ve ever had the opportunity to attend school at all.
Salar, a COA worker at the location, proudly shared that Biddinghuizen has a school attendance rate of more than 95%, much higher than many similar locations. We asked him what’s behind the boys’ motivation for learning. While many kids their age have dreams of becoming doctors, footballers, or influencers:
“Many of the boys don’t know yet what they want to be when they grow up,” Salar explained.
“Their main goal is to bring their families to safety and the only way to do that is to learn the language and get a job that will enable them to support their loved ones.” That’s a lot of pressure on a teenage boy but it also opens the gateway to their passion for learning.
The opportunity to attend school offers these boys more than just an education; it gives them a chance to reclaim their childhood. Salar shared stories of boys who had been working in factories in Türkiye, enduring grueling six-day workweeks. “For them, going to school is a dream come true,” he said.
Of course, at the same time, Salar laughed, being teenage boys, some of them need a little extra push to get up in the morning. But as they get into the swing of school, you can see glimmers of the pride they begin to take in their education.
“Some of them are the first person in their family to go to school and their families are very proud of them.” You can sometimes see the boys showing their parents things they’ve made in school or good grades they’ve received while on a video call with a proud, shy grin spreading across their faces.
Salar also described the confidence boost the boys get when they test out the new words they learn in Dutch and receive a round of “Heel goed!” from him and his fellow COA workers.
“It’s beautiful to see. When they first arrive they are closed but, like a flower, when they get sunlight and energy, they bloom.”
Thanks to our partners, we were able to provide each boy with a backpack filled with school supplies to power their new educational journey.
We also ensured they have enough winter clothing to keep them warm on their way to school. “Some of them didn’t even have proper shoes—they were going to school in flip-flops!” Salar recalled. “Now they have warm clothes and good shoes. It’s incredible to see how much it boosts their confidence. When all you have is one set of clothes, you feel self-conscious. But with new clothes, you can see their self-confidence grow.”
While we can’t erase their past, we can help these boys write a new future—one filled with hope, confidence, and opportunity.
Find out how you can join us in empowering more children to take pride in learning here.
