Mustafa and Boi were paired up just before the summer as part of the House of Compassion's 'Refugees Ahead' buddy project. By sharing their story, we are giving you an insight into the project.

Language and culture
On the couch at Boi's home, Mustafa and Boi talk about their matehood. The atmosphere is relaxed. 'We are actually not much into language yet' they admit with a laugh.

Boi is learning a little Arabic from Mustafa, Mustafa Dutch and sign language from Boi. But they still communicate mostly in English. To really connect. And that clearly happened. It's a lot about intercultural differences and the use of language. About, for example, how they count ages differently in Syria than in the Netherlands. 'In Syria we say my son is 8 (busy in his eighth year), but in the Netherlands they say he is 7'. A world opens up for both of them in this contact.

Integrating together
Together, they volunteered during the summer at the construction week their sons participated in. Boi has now lived in Brakkenstein for two years, Mustafa for 11 months. 'During an activity like this, it feels like we are integrating together in this neighbourhood,' Boi says. 'The more people you know in the neighbourhood, the more you start to feel at home of course.

Buddies
And what else do they want to undertake together? So far, they have mostly chatted together a lot. They both laugh. They want to go cycling, hiking... and maybe even some running to get the 'corona' kilos off . And, of course, they will start speaking more and more Dutch to each other. Mustafa is taking the civic integration course at the ROC and likes the addition of a buddy so he can practice more and more Dutch in practice.

Are you also interested in becoming a buddy to help someone find their way around Nijmegen and practice the Dutch language? Then contact Melissa Cooke melissa@huisvancompassienijmegen.nl/en or 06-51839893.