A new start in the care sector
From midwife to care assistant
Looking for the proximity of the city as well as peace and green surroundings? Then Beersel is the place to be. “Sint Pieters Leeuw, Uccle and Halle are very close by. And by train, you can reach the centre of Brussels quickly,” says an enthusiastic participant of the Dutch for care assistants course at Crescendo CVO. The municipality feels welcoming, the people are open and she finds all the shops she needs.
She graduated as a midwife in 1995. “It is a beautiful profession,” she says, “but not easy to combine with family life.” That is why she started looking for a new balance. This led her to the Dutch for care assistants programme, ZorgNed+. “Working as a care assistant requires flexibility, but it can be well organised. A schedule that takes everyone’s needs into account makes a big difference.”
A new start, a new language
She learned some Dutch in primary school, but this course gives her the opportunity to improve it. “I feel good in Beersel and speaking better Dutch will give me more confidence. The level expected from us is high. You cannot make many mistakes. According to the teacher, I still need to work on my sentence structure,” she admits.
In the morning, the focus is on Dutch specific to the care sector. “In the afternoon, we go deeper into these topics. We discuss hygiene, diversity and dealing with conflicts, which are topics that interest me. You learn a language, but you also learn how to interact with people.”
Experiencing practice at De Ceder care home
During an observation internship in December, she already experienced the practical side at De Ceder care home. And it was not just observation. She helped make beds, prepared baths, talked with residents and assisted during meals. “The care team was very professional and very communicative. They really took the time to explain everything. I know why I chose this programme and I am happy with that.”
In June 2027, she will graduate and start a new career as a care assistant.