my name is spongebob Amega 32 years old I’m born in the Democratic Republic of
I’m born in the Democratic Republic of
I’m born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo my mother came with my sister
the Congo my mother came with my sister
the Congo my mother came with my sister brother and I from Congo to Europe my
brother and I from Congo to Europe my
brother and I from Congo to Europe my sister stayed in France
sister stayed in France
sister stayed in France my brother mother and I we came together
my brother mother and I we came together
my brother mother and I we came together here in the Netherlands a mother applied
here in the Netherlands a mother applied
here in the Netherlands a mother applied for asylum and we were residing in our
for asylum and we were residing in our
for asylum and we were residing in our asylum seeker reception center it was
asylum seeker reception center it was
asylum seeker reception center it was 1994 I was eight I still remember the
1994 I was eight I still remember the
1994 I was eight I still remember the way we were treated when we came to the
way we were treated when we came to the
way we were treated when we came to the Netherlands it was the first time I saw
Netherlands it was the first time I saw
Netherlands it was the first time I saw a lot of people from different countries
a lot of people from different countries
a lot of people from different countries people from Bosnia people from
people from Bosnia people from
people from Bosnia people from Afghanistan Iran Somalia we became
Afghanistan Iran Somalia we became
Afghanistan Iran Somalia we became friends and I learned a lot in that
friends and I learned a lot in that
friends and I learned a lot in that period I learn about intercultural
period I learn about intercultural
period I learn about intercultural communication I met someone who teach me
communication I met someone who teach me
communication I met someone who teach me how to box how to play soccer and the
how to box how to play soccer and the
how to box how to play soccer and the volunteers there they teach me how to
volunteers there they teach me how to
volunteers there they teach me how to play basketball and I won my first sport
play basketball and I won my first sport
play basketball and I won my first sport prize in a basketball tournament as best
prize in a basketball tournament as best
prize in a basketball tournament as best shooter I was eight that period was so
shooter I was eight that period was so
shooter I was eight that period was so good for me and the way I was treated by
good for me and the way I was treated by
good for me and the way I was treated by the Dutch society by those volunteers I
the Dutch society by those volunteers I
the Dutch society by those volunteers I always say they gave me back my dignity
always say they gave me back my dignity
always say they gave me back my dignity they gave me a future by teaching me the
they gave me a future by teaching me the
they gave me a future by teaching me the Dutch language and teaching me English
Dutch language and teaching me English
Dutch language and teaching me English what they actually did is they saw my
what they actually did is they saw my
what they actually did is they saw my talent they gave me an opportunity they
talent they gave me an opportunity they
talent they gave me an opportunity they removed the obstacles and they provided
removed the obstacles and they provided
removed the obstacles and they provided for me a plaque
for me a plaque
for me a plaque form where I could shine flourish a few
form where I could shine flourish a few
form where I could shine flourish a few years later I came to an apartment
years later I came to an apartment
years later I came to an apartment nearby here place called Veldhoven
nearby here place called Veldhoven
nearby here place called Veldhoven and it took some years before we had a
and it took some years before we had a
and it took some years before we had a decision on the asylum seeker
decision on the asylum seeker
decision on the asylum seeker application which we did here the
application which we did here the
application which we did here the decision was a negative we didn’t expect
decision was a negative we didn’t expect
decision was a negative we didn’t expect it and now remembered that moment
it and now remembered that moment
it and now remembered that moment because I was 11 and I saw my mother she
because I was 11 and I saw my mother she
because I was 11 and I saw my mother she was very sad she was in tears with the
was very sad she was in tears with the
was very sad she was in tears with the letter in her hands and as a 11 year old
letter in her hands and as a 11 year old
letter in her hands and as a 11 year old kid it had a lot of impact for me
kid it had a lot of impact for me
kid it had a lot of impact for me because I never saw my mother like that
because I never saw my mother like that
because I never saw my mother like that before
before
before and I felt that I needed to protect her
and I felt that I needed to protect her
and I felt that I needed to protect her I need to protect us and from that
I need to protect us and from that
I need to protect us and from that moment I started reflecting what can I
moment I started reflecting what can I
moment I started reflecting what can I do I started reflecting about my life
do I started reflecting about my life
do I started reflecting about my life how was it so far what have I seen so
how was it so far what have I seen so
how was it so far what have I seen so far I’ve seen the grading treatments
far I’ve seen the grading treatments
far I’ve seen the grading treatments I’ve seen diseases I’ve seen inequality
I’ve seen diseases I’ve seen inequality
I’ve seen diseases I’ve seen inequality poverty I’ve seen restrictions in
poverty I’ve seen restrictions in
poverty I’ve seen restrictions in movement and you’re right and I thought
movement and you’re right and I thought
movement and you’re right and I thought I should do everything which is possible
I should do everything which is possible
I should do everything which is possible to change that situation I was thinking
to change that situation I was thinking
to change that situation I was thinking how is it possible and I thought that
how is it possible and I thought that
how is it possible and I thought that this one is because of the policies and
this one is because of the policies and
this one is because of the policies and the laws which was made by men so if it
the laws which was made by men so if it
the laws which was made by men so if it was made by men then it can also be
was made by men then it can also be
was made by men then it can also be fixed by men and I started imagining a
fixed by men and I started imagining a
fixed by men and I started imagining a totally other kind of world I started
totally other kind of world I started
totally other kind of world I started dreaming about a world a world
dreaming about a world a world
dreaming about a world a world which is just an occlusive a world which
which is just an occlusive a world which
which is just an occlusive a world which everyone is equally in right and in
everyone is equally in right and in
everyone is equally in right and in dignity a world where it doesn’t matter
dignity a world where it doesn’t matter
dignity a world where it doesn’t matter who you are where you’re born what
who you are where you’re born what
who you are where you’re born what sexual orientation you have or which
sexual orientation you have or which
sexual orientation you have or which religion you have to truly have an
religion you have to truly have an
religion you have to truly have an opportunity and truly be entitled to a
opportunity and truly be entitled to a
opportunity and truly be entitled to a future because that world was so clear
future because that world was so clear
future because that world was so clear to me I felt that it was my
to me I felt that it was my
to me I felt that it was my responsibility to do something to do
responsibility to do something to do
responsibility to do something to do everything I could so I started making a
everything I could so I started making a
everything I could so I started making a plan five years plan ten years plan 15
plan five years plan ten years plan 15
plan five years plan ten years plan 15 years plan 20 years plan and I knew that
years plan 20 years plan and I knew that
years plan 20 years plan and I knew that education was the key to the future and
education was the key to the future and
education was the key to the future and I knew that this going to be a long road
I knew that this going to be a long road
I knew that this going to be a long road a hard road marathon but I had to start
a hard road marathon but I had to start
a hard road marathon but I had to start today if I want to finish at the end so
today if I want to finish at the end so
today if I want to finish at the end so I started studying in law but this law
I started studying in law but this law
I started studying in law but this law was at a lower education studying and
was at a lower education studying and
was at a lower education studying and studying and studying and I became 18
studying and studying and I became 18
studying and studying and I became 18 and that was a problem because we still
and that was a problem because we still
and that was a problem because we still didn’t have any paper still didn’t have
didn’t have any paper still didn’t have
didn’t have any paper still didn’t have any status and when when you are 18 you
any status and when when you are 18 you
any status and when when you are 18 you don’t you’re not obliged to study
don’t you’re not obliged to study
don’t you’re not obliged to study anymore
anymore
anymore so it means that I cannot register for a
so it means that I cannot register for a
so it means that I cannot register for a working place I cannot register for an
working place I cannot register for an
working place I cannot register for an internship place so all of that was hard
internship place so all of that was hard
internship place so all of that was hard for me and I was about to drop out but I
for me and I was about to drop out but I
for me and I was about to drop out but I refused I said I’ll go to the city
refused I said I’ll go to the city
refused I said I’ll go to the city center and see if there is an
center and see if there is an
center and see if there is an organization that is willing to hire me
organization that is willing to hire me
organization that is willing to hire me even though I didn’t have any assurance
even though I didn’t have any assurance
even though I didn’t have any assurance and I couldn’t register and I found an
and I couldn’t register and I found an
and I couldn’t register and I found an organization an organization called
organization an organization called
organization an organization called dynamo
dynamo
dynamo and this place is a youth place a place
and this place is a youth place a place
and this place is a youth place a place where youth get a second chance when
where youth get a second chance when
where youth get a second chance when they are excluded from society or when
they are excluded from society or when
they are excluded from society or when they fit when it doesn’t fit
they fit when it doesn’t fit
they fit when it doesn’t fit they don’t fit in a certain system I
went there and talked to people like
went there and talked to people like Vera I met her feed read and do wrong
Vera I met her feed read and do wrong
Vera I met her feed read and do wrong those people were not the head of the
those people were not the head of the
those people were not the head of the organization
organization
organization those people were regular employees of
those people were regular employees of
those people were regular employees of that organization they listened to my
that organization they listened to my
that organization they listened to my story and when they listened to my story
story and when they listened to my story
story and when they listened to my story they saw the talent that gave me an
they saw the talent that gave me an
they saw the talent that gave me an opportunity to do an internship there
opportunity to do an internship there
opportunity to do an internship there they removed the obstacles and it
they removed the obstacles and it
they removed the obstacles and it provided a platform for me to shine and
provided a platform for me to shine and
provided a platform for me to shine and flourish if it wasn’t for them I
flourish if it wasn’t for them I
flourish if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t finish that law school at lower
wouldn’t finish that law school at lower
wouldn’t finish that law school at lower education after years of misery after 16
education after years of misery after 16
education after years of misery after 16 years of residing in a netherlands
years of residing in a netherlands
years of residing in a netherlands without a paper after the intervention
without a paper after the intervention
without a paper after the intervention of teachers friends lawyers politicians
of teachers friends lawyers politicians
of teachers friends lawyers politicians journalists we finally managed to get a
journalists we finally managed to get a
journalists we finally managed to get a status in a Netherland and from that
status in a Netherland and from that
status in a Netherland and from that moment everything went faster because
moment everything went faster because
moment everything went faster because now I could do easily an internship I
now I could do easily an internship I
now I could do easily an internship I was studying law at the University of
was studying law at the University of
was studying law at the University of Applied Science and there I thought that
Applied Science and there I thought that
Applied Science and there I thought that I will do an internship at the Dutch
I will do an internship at the Dutch
I will do an internship at the Dutch parliament and work for Parliament
parliament and work for Parliament
parliament and work for Parliament members because I wanted to learn about
members because I wanted to learn about
members because I wanted to learn about the process how they make laws one of
the process how they make laws one of
the process how they make laws one of the policy makers name was Peter was one
the policy makers name was Peter was one
the policy makers name was Peter was one of my teachers there and he learned me
of my teachers there and he learned me
of my teachers there and he learned me about the fact that a law which is not
about the fact that a law which is not
about the fact that a law which is not applicable which is not just which is
applicable which is not just which is
applicable which is not just which is not inclusive for a lot of people it’s
not inclusive for a lot of people it’s
not inclusive for a lot of people it’s no law at all so I started thinking
no law at all so I started thinking
no law at all so I started thinking about that and one day
about that and one day
about that and one day I was sitting in a room where there was
I was sitting in a room where there was
I was sitting in a room where there was a hearing
a hearing
a hearing I was sitting just like you are sitting
I was sitting just like you are sitting
I was sitting just like you are sitting right now listening to a very inspiring
right now listening to a very inspiring
right now listening to a very inspiring person
person
person his name was case black holt he was a
his name was case black holt he was a
his name was case black holt he was a director of the university asylum fund
director of the university asylum fund
director of the university asylum fund and he was defending human rights issues
and he was defending human rights issues
and he was defending human rights issues at the Parliament after he was done he
at the Parliament after he was done he
at the Parliament after he was done he came to sit next to me and when he came
came to sit next to me and when he came
came to sit next to me and when he came to sit next to me he started talking to
to sit next to me he started talking to
to sit next to me he started talking to me who are you
me who are you
me who are you what you doing here what is your dream
what you doing here what is your dream
what you doing here what is your dream and I told him about it and he said I’m
and I told him about it and he said I’m
and I told him about it and he said I’m ready to contribute to that dream I’m
ready to contribute to that dream I’m
ready to contribute to that dream I’m ready to be your friend this is my card
ready to be your friend this is my card
ready to be your friend this is my card let’s be friends
let’s be friends
let’s be friends from that moment he invited me to places
from that moment he invited me to places
from that moment he invited me to places where I could speak to former Prime
where I could speak to former Prime
where I could speak to former Prime Minister’s where I could speak to the
Minister’s where I could speak to the
Minister’s where I could speak to the Queen where I could speak to high
Queen where I could speak to high
Queen where I could speak to high officials of the United Nations and I
officials of the United Nations and I
officials of the United Nations and I learned from them by speaking to them
learned from them by speaking to them
learned from them by speaking to them how they try to have impact in society
how they try to have impact in society
how they try to have impact in society what people like Peter and case did to
what people like Peter and case did to
what people like Peter and case did to me is to see the talent give me an
me is to see the talent give me an
me is to see the talent give me an opportunity remove the obstacles and
opportunity remove the obstacles and
opportunity remove the obstacles and provide me a platform where I could
provide me a platform where I could
provide me a platform where I could shine well after all this time I finally
shine well after all this time I finally
shine well after all this time I finally had my law degree I was happy and people
had my law degree I was happy and people
had my law degree I was happy and people were also happy for me because they knew
were also happy for me because they knew
were also happy for me because they knew my life and they said Pan you should
my life and they said Pan you should
my life and they said Pan you should focus on yourself now you have your law
focus on yourself now you have your law
focus on yourself now you have your law degree just go for a big firm you can
degree just go for a big firm you can
degree just go for a big firm you can make lots of money with your brains
make lots of money with your brains
make lots of money with your brains everything will be okay and you don’t
everything will be okay and you don’t
everything will be okay and you don’t have to save the world it’s not your
have to save the world it’s not your
have to save the world it’s not your responsibility
responsibility
responsibility and I started thinking about it because
and I started thinking about it because
and I started thinking about it because there were a lot of people telling me
there were a lot of people telling me
there were a lot of people telling me this it’s not your responsibility
this it’s not your responsibility
this it’s not your responsibility the world sort of thinking about it and
when I was organizing a party because I
when I was organizing a party because I wanted to celebrate that I finally have
wanted to celebrate that I finally have
wanted to celebrate that I finally have a diploma I was organizing a party and a
a diploma I was organizing a party and a
a diploma I was organizing a party and a lots of friends a family came and my
lots of friends a family came and my
lots of friends a family came and my sister who was living in France and now
sister who was living in France and now
sister who was living in France and now have moved to the United States because
have moved to the United States because
have moved to the United States because she had her husband there was planning
she had her husband there was planning
she had her husband there was planning to surprise me when she was on her way
to surprise me when she was on her way
to surprise me when she was on her way to me to the Netherlands she sent me a
to me to the Netherlands she sent me a
to me to the Netherlands she sent me a text message because she wanted to
text message because she wanted to
text message because she wanted to surprise me so she told me that she
surprise me so she told me that she
surprise me so she told me that she won’t be there but she was on her way
won’t be there but she was on her way
won’t be there but she was on her way and when she got to the border in the
and when she got to the border in the
and when she got to the border in the United States she got arrested for no
United States she got arrested for no
United States she got arrested for no clear reasons even though she had a
clear reasons even though she had a
clear reasons even though she had a French passport even though she had a
French passport even though she had a
French passport even though she had a ticket she got arrested and she was put
ticket she got arrested and she was put
ticket she got arrested and she was put in detention
she had a met
she had a met for heart disease and this medication
for heart disease and this medication
for heart disease and this medication was taken from her a few days later I
was taken from her a few days later I
was taken from her a few days later I received a phone call that my sister
received a phone call that my sister
received a phone call that my sister passed away in a cell alone in border
passed away in a cell alone in border
passed away in a cell alone in border detention a lot of ideas went through my
detention a lot of ideas went through my
detention a lot of ideas went through my mind at that moment I felt a tremendous
mind at that moment I felt a tremendous
mind at that moment I felt a tremendous energy through my body
shall I reach for revenge shall I use
shall I reach for revenge shall I use all of my talents to destroy those
all of my talents to destroy those
all of my talents to destroy those people who treated her in the grading
people who treated her in the grading
people who treated her in the grading manner those people who made her suffer
manner those people who made her suffer
manner those people who made her suffer those people who led her to her death
those people who led her to her death
those people who led her to her death just at that moment I thought about her
just at that moment I thought about her
just at that moment I thought about her last message she sent me she said I
last message she sent me she said I
last message she sent me she said I won’t be able to make it but I want you
won’t be able to make it but I want you
won’t be able to make it but I want you to know that I believe in your dream and
to know that I believe in your dream and
to know that I believe in your dream and that you should pursue it and make it a
that you should pursue it and make it a
that you should pursue it and make it a reality
reality
reality your sister who loves you very much
this
this happening was the answer
happening was the answer
happening was the answer the answer to the question which all
the answer to the question which all
the answer to the question which all those people ask me is it my
those people ask me is it my
those people ask me is it my responsibility to save the world
responsibility to save the world
responsibility to save the world no it’s not only my responsibility to
no it’s not only my responsibility to
no it’s not only my responsibility to save the world it is also your
save the world it is also your
save the world it is also your responsibility to try to save the world
responsibility to try to save the world
responsibility to try to save the world it is our responsibility to try to save
it is our responsibility to try to save
it is our responsibility to try to save the world not only for ourselves but
the world not only for ourselves but
the world not only for ourselves but also for the future generations
also for the future generations
also for the future generations I remember what Martin Luther King once
I remember what Martin Luther King once
I remember what Martin Luther King once said injustice anywhere is injustice
said injustice anywhere is injustice
said injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere and the fact that we are all
everywhere and the fact that we are all
everywhere and the fact that we are all connected if there is one person in
connected if there is one person in
connected if there is one person in other side of the world who’s suffering
other side of the world who’s suffering
other side of the world who’s suffering we should feel responsible for that and
we should feel responsible for that and
we should feel responsible for that and I believe we have to do something I try
I believe we have to do something I try
I believe we have to do something I try to apply everything that I can by
to apply everything that I can by
to apply everything that I can by becoming a jurist I try to help people
becoming a jurist I try to help people
becoming a jurist I try to help people individually by me becoming an activist
individually by me becoming an activist
individually by me becoming an activist I founded a movement called Inc leaders
I founded a movement called Inc leaders
I founded a movement called Inc leaders inclusion leaders network and I became a
inclusion leaders network and I became a
inclusion leaders network and I became a politician here in the city of aunt /
politician here in the city of aunt /
politician here in the city of aunt / member of council this beautiful city
member of council this beautiful city
member of council this beautiful city which we call the smallest region of the
which we call the smallest region of the
which we call the smallest region of the world the economic wonder of the
world the economic wonder of the
world the economic wonder of the Netherlands the place where we make the
Netherlands the place where we make the
Netherlands the place where we make the future not only for ourselves but also
future not only for ourselves but also
future not only for ourselves but also for others this place is where I became
for others this place is where I became
for others this place is where I became politician in 2014 we had an issue there
politician in 2014 we had an issue there
politician in 2014 we had an issue there was a refugee crisis and a lot of you
was a refugee crisis and a lot of you
was a refugee crisis and a lot of you know the society was polarized there are
know the society was polarized there are
know the society was polarized there are people who are welcoming refugees and
people who are welcoming refugees and
people who are welcoming refugees and people who are not welcoming refugees
people who are not welcoming refugees
people who are not welcoming refugees what I tried to do is try to apply
what I tried to do is try to apply
what I tried to do is try to apply everything I’ve learned I tried to
everything I’ve learned I tried to
everything I’ve learned I tried to explain to the people what I experienced
explain to the people what I experienced
explain to the people what I experienced and why I’m standing here because people
and why I’m standing here because people
and why I’m standing here because people saw my talent because people gave me an
saw my talent because people gave me an
saw my talent because people gave me an opportunity remove the obstacles and it
opportunity remove the obstacles and it
opportunity remove the obstacles and it gave me a platform and if you do the
gave me a platform and if you do the
gave me a platform and if you do the same to those refugees who are coming
same to those refugees who are coming
same to those refugees who are coming here they will flourish they will shine
here they will flourish they will shine
here they will flourish they will shine and Athiya council we managed to build
and Athiya council we managed to build
and Athiya council we managed to build bridges between those two people and to
bridges between those two people and to
bridges between those two people and to me my friends this is the best example
me my friends this is the best example
me my friends this is the best example of a democracy as I’m ending my talk I
of a democracy as I’m ending my talk I
of a democracy as I’m ending my talk I want you to close your eyes please close
want you to close your eyes please close
want you to close your eyes please close your eyes and imagine this imagine a
your eyes and imagine this imagine a
your eyes and imagine this imagine a world which is just an inclusive a world
world which is just an inclusive a world
world which is just an inclusive a world where every human being is eco in right
where every human being is eco in right
where every human being is eco in right and in dignity a world where the
and in dignity a world where the
and in dignity a world where the potentials of people is fully used a
potentials of people is fully used a
potentials of people is fully used a world where it doesn’t matter who you
world where it doesn’t matter who you
world where it doesn’t matter who you are where you’re born what is your
are where you’re born what is your
are where you’re born what is your sexual orientation or what your religion
sexual orientation or what your religion
sexual orientation or what your religion is to equally have opportunities
is to equally have opportunities
is to equally have opportunities and to also be entitled to a future a
and to also be entitled to a future a
and to also be entitled to a future a world where illegal persons don’t exist
world where illegal persons don’t exist
world where illegal persons don’t exist a world where there’s no poverty and
a world where there’s no poverty and
a world where there’s no poverty and where diseases such as cancer can be
where diseases such as cancer can be
where diseases such as cancer can be healed now open your eyes I would like
healed now open your eyes I would like
healed now open your eyes I would like to know who of you would like to live in
to know who of you would like to live in
to know who of you would like to live in such a world which you’ve seen I would
such a world which you’ve seen I would
such a world which you’ve seen I would like to see the hands all of you and I
like to see the hands all of you and I
like to see the hands all of you and I believe if we combine our strength
believe if we combine our strength
believe if we combine our strength together that we can make that world I
together that we can make that world I
together that we can make that world I believe we can create that world if we
believe we can create that world if we
believe we can create that world if we start to be inclusive persons if we
start to be inclusive persons if we
start to be inclusive persons if we starts to be in cleaners and try to
starts to be in cleaners and try to
starts to be in cleaners and try to apply the principles of being an
apply the principles of being an
apply the principles of being an inclusive person which is see the talent
give opportunities remove obstacles and
give opportunities remove obstacles and provide for a shelter for place so
provide for a shelter for place so
provide for a shelter for place so another can flourish and I want you at
another can flourish and I want you at
another can flourish and I want you at least find five people and do the same
least find five people and do the same
least find five people and do the same like for instance case did to me five
like for instance case did to me five
like for instance case did to me five strangers talk to them and see their
strangers talk to them and see their
strangers talk to them and see their talent try to see their talent try to
talent try to see their talent try to
talent try to see their talent try to see how you can give them an opportunity
see how you can give them an opportunity
see how you can give them an opportunity remove their obstacles and how you can
remove their obstacles and how you can
remove their obstacles and how you can make sure that they get a platform so
make sure that they get a platform so
make sure that they get a platform so they can flourish and you don’t need to
they can flourish and you don’t need to
they can flourish and you don’t need to be a director or someone high for fishel
be a director or someone high for fishel
be a director or someone high for fishel you could be a regular person like case
you could be a regular person like case
you could be a regular person like case or Peter or I met or read order on did
or Peter or I met or read order on did
or Peter or I met or read order on did to me and if we do so and if we do so I
to me and if we do so and if we do so I
to me and if we do so and if we do so I do believe together we can reach and
do believe together we can reach and
do believe together we can reach and just an inclusive society I guarantee
just an inclusive society I guarantee
just an inclusive society I guarantee we can do that I had a lot of light bulb
we can do that I had a lot of light bulb
we can do that I had a lot of light bulb moments in my life I hope today will be
moments in my life I hope today will be
moments in my life I hope today will be one light bulb moment for you thank you
one light bulb moment for you thank you
one light bulb moment for you thank you [Applause]
”
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