The story of Kadhim and Mart Vlutters’ group of friends

I first came across the Homies Foundation during Steven and Sander’s bike ride to Lapland. Daniel’s story inspired me straight away, and I realised I wanted to help someone too. So I rounded up a few friends, and before I knew it we had a group of enthusiasts ready to back the Homies Foundation. We were matched with Kadhim, a man originally from Senegal who had just found a temporary home and a full-time job, and who dreamed of one day becoming a bicycle mechanic.

We first met at a community centre in Amsterdam West, together with someone from De Regenboog. From the start he was very open about his story, which made it easier to connect with us (try doing that with a group of complete strangers). Kadhim, or “Mamba” as he prefers to be called, was also hugely positive and sociable, and he invited us round for Senegalese food right away. Over the weeks that followed we met up with him regularly, to get to know each other better and to find out where he could use some help.

Kadhim was already well on his way with housing and work, but we noticed the language barrier sometimes made paperwork hard. That ranged from letters from the council and a contract for his job to cancelling subscriptions he had once signed up for. At a barbecue we organised, we also got to know his mates, which was great fun.

Recently Kadhim heard he could not stay in his temporary home after all. So the whole crew went looking for a new place with him, and we found one he will probably sign for this week (fingers crossed). Kadhim has his life firmly back on track, and that is mostly down to his own perseverance. It is a fine thing to be able to help someone a little, on a small scale. Either way, Mamba has become a true Homie and I am glad I got to know him. And who knows, one day you might run into him as a bicycle mechanic!

Kadhim, one year on: doing well!