NEW FACES OF SLOVENIA
Read Yasemin’s story.
Who am I?
I’m Yasemin, a 45-year-old math teacher from Turkey. I graduated from Istanbul University and worked as a mathematics teacher and assistant to the principal in Turkey for 15 years. For political reasons, I had to leave my country. I have been living in Slovenia for the last 8 years with my husband and two daughters.
Coming to Slovenia
When my family and I first came to Slovenia, we were determined to integrate into society, learn the language and create a new life for ourselves. However, I faced great challenges from the beginning. At the Employment Office, I was repeatedly advised to look for a job that required minimal language skills, such as in factories or cleaning, rather than pursuing my career as a maths teacher. In addition, the state language classes were insufficient for my needs.
Despite these obstacles, I have not given up on my goal of continuing my teaching career. I actively participated in all the Slovene language courses I could find, including courses led by volunteers. Eventually, my dedication paid off.
Living in Slovenia
Today, I work as a mathematics teacher in a private institution as well as at a public school in Ljubljana. I express my gratitude for the understanding and support I have received from my colleagues and superiors. My family and I are proud that we have successfully integrated into Slovenian society and are making a positive contribution to our community. My husband works as a software developer, a profession that is in high demand, while I pursue my dream of teaching and supporting students.
Chances for success for all
I would like to share the fact, how important education and perseverance are. In my opinion, the biggest challenge remains the inadequacy of language education for migrants.
My story is a testament to the resilience and determination of migrants. My journey shows us the importance of equal opportunities, access to education and the promotion of a welcoming environment for all. Let’s stand together against stereotypes and work towards a more inclusive society in which everyone can succeed.
Let us fight the stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice. It is important that we work together to promote social justice, equal treatment and opportunities for all members of our society. Let’s be patient, friendly and open to new faces, new acquaintances and opportunities for people to positively surprise us as great employees, talented individuals or just loyal friends. Although we are different, we are all equal.
“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 “𝑩𝑶𝑫𝑬/𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒛 𝑶𝒗𝒊𝒓 𝑫𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊” 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝟒𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 – 𝒕𝒐 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
You can read more about the BODE+ project HERE.
In cooperation with ADRA, the project is also on this page.
