At the age of forty, Amir got his first permanent job, in the kitchen of De Nieuwe Poort. When he was eighteen, he was incapacitated for work because of psychological problems, but he tried to make himself useful through daytime activity programs. At his last workplace they helped him with his development, so he could start at De Nieuwe Poort.

Amir understands that people might find it a bit scary that he has psychological symptoms, but with therapy and medication things are now going very well. He’s even living on his own again. His goal is to integrate into the labour market, through the training program to become an independent cook that De Nieuwe Poort offered him. It has its ups and downs, but he’s happy he’s doing it. ‘It will take as long as it takes.’