Ali Çigir finds a new home in Zaventem
Getting to Know Ali Çigir: A New Home in Zaventem
Anyone visiting CC De Factorij in Zaventem may have already had a chat with Ali Çigir. Ali has been living in Belgium for two years and is currently doing a language internship at the Cultural Center in Zaventem.
Learning Dutch at Turbo Speed
Ali Çigir: “In September 2023, I started Dutch lessons at Crescendo CVO. I have already reached level B1+. The lessons have helped me tremendously. My native language is Turkish, and I also speak some English. During my training at the police academy in Ankara in 1985, I took German classes. After graduating from the police academy in 1993, I forgot my German because I never used it. But since German and Dutch are somewhat similar, learning Dutch is slightly easier for me. I am very motivated to improve my Dutch because I want to get to know the people around me better.”
A Language Internship with New Friends
“During my language internship, I have already met so many wonderful people, especially through the volunteer work. Everyone here is so kind and helpful. This system was new to me and has many advantages. Every day is different. I work in the library and help with various activities, from taking coats at the cloakroom to scanning tickets and setting up tables during year-end events.”
Fleeing for Freedom
“The failed coup attempt in Turkey in 2016 had major consequences for me and my family. After a career of more than 23 years in the police force, I was arrested. The circumstances forced me to leave my country after spending five years in prison because my wife was also sentenced to six years in prison. After a difficult and dangerous journey, we arrived in Belgium in 2022. At first, my wife Hülya and I stayed with our youngest daughter, Reyyan, in a Red Cross reception center in Berlaar. There were no language courses available there, but fortunately, our daughter was able to attend school in Lier for half a semester. In the meantime, we found a house and now feel at home in Zaventem.”
Looking to the Future
“Our eldest daughters, Handan and Nagehan, joined us in Belgium six months later. Handan dreams of studying psychology and helping people, while Nagehan, who studied international relations in Turkey, is working hard to improve her Dutch. My wife is taking a language course at Ligo and also following a basic computer course. Both my daughters are enrolled in an ILT language course in Leuven, and Nagehan wants to become a physiotherapist. My youngest daughter wants to become a veterinarian.
I also want to keep improving my Dutch and later take a course in electricity. My goal is to find a job and provide my family with a stable life. The lessons help me enormously, and although my vocabulary is still limited, I make progress every day. After all the challenges of recent years, Belgium has become our new home.”