Posted by Lorenzo van Sichem
on April 25, 2022
Seeing people flourish with a new employer is what energizes us. We regularly contact former participants to ask how they're doing, what work means to them, and how they look back on their time at i-did. This time, we share the story of Elham, a blossoming employee.
Name: Elham
Age: 42 years
Currently working at: A dental practice as a dental assistant. Started as a clothing repairman after working at i-did.
What kind of work do you do there?
After i-did, I started repairing old clothes in a clothing workshop. Thanks to my time at i-did and my experience sewing, I knew exactly how to do it. However, after a while, I missed the direct contact with people.
That was the reason I decided to work in a dental practice as a dental assistant. Now, in addition to the enjoyable and varied work, I can chat with patients in the practice."
How do you look back on your time at i-did?
It was a lot of fun. I learned to collaborate with other colleagues for the first time. The coaching and guidance from Tina (i-did trainer) was also very valuable. I felt confident enough to practice Dutch and further develop myself.
It's great to see that I've developed so much that I can now perform a wide variety of tasks. At i-did, you learn to become independent, you learn something new, discover your talents, and collaborate. That's important if you've never worked before."
i-did turns textiles into social impact
Every year, over 200,000 tons of textiles are discarded in the Netherlands, including large quantities of workwear. At the same time, more than 400,000 people are on welfare, including refugees and those for whom access to employment is not a given. They have few opportunities to discover and utilize their talents.
At i-did, we connect these two challenges: old textiles are given a second life and processed into products that truly matter. Products made by people who, at i-did, have the opportunity to gain experience and contribute meaningfully to society.
More and more companies are choosing i-did products, increasing our social impact and reach every year. On this page , we share insights, figures, and examples of how clothing reuse and social impact converge.
