Discover HackYourFuture: the programming school for refugees that is committed to a diverse labor market.

Through a free 7-month education program led by 50 highly educated volunteers, a school in Amsterdam helps motivated refugees, migrants, people with disabilities, and the long-term unemployed to pursue successful careers in web development. In addition to teaching technical skills, the program also offers soft skills training, access to conferences and events, and support with application training and finding employment. I'm sitting with Wouter to talk about his life, his motivation to diversify the job market, the community's success at HackYourFuture, what he's learned over the past 2.5 years, and what it means to be a member of A Lab.

Hi Wouter, tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you end up at HackYourFuture?

I've been working at HackYourFuture for 2.5 years now. Before that, I studied journalism and obtained a master's degree in international relations (political science). I've always been interested in economics and politics, especially how we can create conditions and opportunities for people who unfortunately did not grow up in the right conditions to make the choices they would like to make.

Where does that drive and interest come from?

Before joining HackYourFuture, I worked in development aid for 4.5 years. Many of the field-related projects had good intentions, but often failed to achieve the goals they were supposed to achieve. At one point, I just wanted to be part of a project that I really believed in. That's when I saw the Partnership Manager vacancy at HackYourFuture. I followed the organization from the start and really believed in its mission. I got the job and moved from Nairobi to Amsterdam.

There is a lot of demand for software developers in the Netherlands, but there are also many talented and motivated people coming to the Netherlands who are unable to find jobs. We combine these two problems into one solution. My job was to help graduate students find employment. It gave me the opportunity to help people create opportunities for themselves. Last year, I became Managing Director and currently working with a very talented team of 4 full-time employees and more than 50 volunteers, the backbone of HackYourFuture.

Since your students are mostly refugees, I assume you've heard a lot of impressive stories. How do you deal with that?

When I just started at HackYourFuture, it took some getting used to. But I quickly discovered that the great thing about our organization is that we don't so much stick to those stories of difficulty. People want to move forward and don't constantly dwell on the past. Quite the contrary — they want to get off to a fresh start, and by learning how to program and discuss homework, we help them do that.

‍Most people at HackYourFuture have a different but shared experience because they had to leave their country - they share a common interest: programming. Does this combination contribute to a sense of community within your classes?

Absolutely. We realize that the first step towards integration is a job. It is the starting point that provides confidence, structure and the ability to care for your loved ones - a crucial step in the complicated process of integration. Of course, integration is much bigger than just work. It's also about forming your own identity within society, making connections and a sense of “belonging”. That's why it's satisfying when graduates tell us how HackYourFuture helped them make lifelong friends. That also applies to me; I've met a lot of people who have now become close friends of mine.

Your organization is based on teaching others. What has your experience with HackYourFuture taught you over the past few years?

Although it may sound cliché, I've learned that focused effort makes tremendous progress possible within a relatively short period of time. Many of our students have no prior knowledge of programming. However, within 7 months, they already have their first internship and only a few months later they are working at renowned companies and earning a fixed income. Especially in today's society, focus and the ability to ignore distractions have become essential skills.

‍Founder Gijs Corstens stated in a interview with NOS that programmers must be able to learn and adapt quickly. Do you think your students have an advantage in this, given their experiences where they had to adapt quickly, flee their home country and integrate into a new country?

Interesting proposition. As far as our students are concerned, I think they are like everyone else: you have people who do their homework and people who don't. The word refugee is just a label. Just like the Dutch, there is not much point in generalizing. It is not for nothing that these people came to the Netherlands and they are here to stay now. We have to make sure it works. That said, we have a thorough selection process. And to be able to learn as quickly and be as determined as our students, after a lot of setbacks in your personal life, speaks volumes about the character of HackYourFuture graduates. Companies should be happy to receive their resume.

Looking back on 2.5 years at HackYourFuture, what would you call one of the most beautiful or inspiring moments?

I find it really inspiring to see how graduates work hard, find jobs and no longer need our support. I also enjoy working with my colleagues. They show a genuine sense of commitment and responsibility for the organization. I'm not wearing that alone. When I started at HYF, I was primarily driven by the positive social impact we're trying to achieve. But I've learned that being surrounded by talented and driven people contributes at least 50% to my satisfaction.

What makes our community at A Lab so special to you?

We've only been in the building since November 2019, but so far we really like the informal setting. The annual Christmas dinner event was a huge success, as was the Lab Crawl. I think what I and my team enjoy most is that A Lab is a community of people who come from all walks of life. This is something that is very rare these days. A beautiful space with a diverse mix of people in the center of Amsterdam is unique and must be preserved. For me, A Lab represents the Amsterdam I looked up to as a child growing up in a small village in the north of the Netherlands. With today's rising house prices and gentrification, A Lab is one of the factors that keeps Amsterdam accessible and open-minded.

Have you already worked with other members of A Lab?

Definitely. We are in contact with We are Keen to see how we can help each other, because they do a lot of work in the tech sector and recruitment. We also had contact with Le Wagon, a commercial coding school.

What does the future hold for HackYourFuture?

Of course, we want to get through the Covid crisis first. Companies have shut down their recruitment processes, so we need to work extra hard to ensure that our students find a fun job once they graduate. We would also like to further improve the level of our education to prepare our students even better for their future jobs. We offer a lot of technical training, but we also want to focus on developing soft skills.

When we talk about a vision, we aim to contribute to an improved and diversified labour market. For example, many companies post on their LinkedIn profile that they support Black Lives Matter and inclusivity, but when I send them a resume from someone with a refugee background, they often don't even look at it. We want to contribute to an alternative vision of Human Resource Management and, more generally, entrepreneurship. A vision in which there is less focus on the short term, but more room for future potential and friendliness.