#livedexperiencehero
After a ten-year “internship” in youth care, Henriëtte has found the perfect course for her.
Name:
Henriëtte
Occupation:
Youth care worker
What they needed:
Training
Why:
To turn her past into a strength and help others in youth care
Made possible by
Guidance
Henriëtte’s story
“I’m Henriëtte, and I’m studying Social Work with a specialisation in lived experience (MBO Level 4, work-study) at Zadkine College. I’m now in my second and final year, and I’m doing a placement at the youth care organisation where I lived myself ten years ago.
“My life hasn’t always been easy. I have a complex history with youth care, including being placed in care, and later a period when I had to flee an abusive relationship. I lived in a domestic violence shelter for two years. At the time, I wasn’t able to make choices for myself or save money.
“When I finally got my life back on track, I decided to do things differently. I wanted to use my experiences to help others in similar situations. That’s why I chose to train as a lived-experience expert.
“Thanks to the support of Everyday Heroes, I can now complete my studies. This means much more to me than financial help. It’s a chance to realise my dream. Now that I’m doing a placement at the place where I once lived, it feels like a huge achievement. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and every day it gives me new motivation to support young people who are having a hard time.
“What I’m doing now is what I’ve always wanted: turning my past into a strength and showing others that recovery and growth are truly possible.”
Henriëtte is a pseudonym. Everyday Heroes knows her real name.
