A new start from cleaning to accounting
When your body says "stop", but you don’t
Isaura Almeida is not someone who gives up easily. When her husband’s business started to decline in Portugal, she moved to Belgium in 2010 with their two young children to stay with a friend. She quickly found work as a cleaner in companies, until her body said "stop". Today, she works at Natuurpunt as an accounting assistant. A real change of direction.
Taking the leap despite doubts
Isaura Almeida explains:
"Because of health problems, I had to change direction. That was difficult, but doing nothing is not who I am. I am not someone who just sits back, I want to prove myself. Through VDAB, I found the accounting assistant course at Crescendo CVO. In Portugal, I already had some experience in administration and accounting, so the step was not too big. At the same time, I thought: I am in my forties, my Dutch is not perfect… can I really do this?"
"The first weeks were intense. Learning new concepts in Dutch and understanding VAT rules sometimes felt overwhelming. But I felt that I was not alone. The teachers took the time and looked for solutions with me. I was given an extra semester to complete the course. That gave me the space I needed for my health. It was also very practical: we learned accounting skills that you use every day at work, such as creating invoices and calculating salaries."
An internship that changed everything
"My internship almost fell through. The company dropped out and I had to find a new place very quickly. In the end, that turned out to be my luck, because that is how I ended up at Natuurpunt. The job interview took place online. I am not very outspoken, and in this case that actually helped me. The person on the other side was calm and made me feel at ease. There was an immediate connection."
"During my internship, I started with small tasks such as checking invoices and entering data. Step by step, my supervisor and colleagues involved me more in their work. They took the time to explain everything and it was okay to make mistakes. That was new for me. We also had coffee breaks together and sometimes went for a short walk during lunch. I did not feel like a "foreign intern", but part of the team."
Working and continuing to learn
"When a position opened up in accounting, I took my chance. After three months, I received a permanent contract. I now work full time at Natuurpunt, in a hybrid system with three days working from home. That gives me structure and helps me take care of my health."
"I am ambitious and want to keep growing. That is why I am now studying for a bachelor’s degree in accountancy at Thomas More. My philosophy? Sometimes it is difficult, but there are always opportunities. Do not wait for someone else to choose for you, make your own choices. For me, the guidance and the internship really made the difference. It helped me not to be afraid of making mistakes and to start again."