Warm sweaters, caps, gloves and safety vests. The Muslim youth Colmar, who have been waiting for the turn of the year, have received dozens of items from the Amsterdam fashion brand Connection.
The founder of the brand, Karri, comes from Colmar. "He heard of our project through the news and decided to support us,” says Kamala of the Muslim youth. "We think we got a few thousand Euros in clothing, and we also get reflective vests."
Super cold
He is very happy with the clothes. "With old and new the clothes had been very handy, when it was super cold." Now the youngsters are no longer walking, but with for example Ramadan in May, rounds are scheduled again. "And there are also T-shirts, so we can handle that."
To work
In addition, the young people are thinking about extra activities such as cleaning actions in the neighborhood. "We have to look at how we do it with time," says Yesinia Diode. "We also have to work, but we think it's important that we can live together, this man has a heart of gold."
Victim role
Karri Dam in high visibility clothing has to laugh a bit when he hears it. Raised even though it is not in Tarweeds, he knows the problems in the city. However, he himself is of the motto 'the glass is half full'. "There is still a tendency among Moroccan youths to dive into a victim role, but these young people do not, and I think that is very good." In 2015 Dam, now living in Amsterdam started the clothing brand with a companion.
Meet
Behind Connection is a story, he says. "Zeneca is originally from Moroccan and means street, where you have to face each other, then there are no more race riots, because you meet each other. The street is where it all starts; let us make life enjoyable, regardless race, religion or sex.