To the Youth Fund Sports & Culture Amsterdam page

Amsterdam | April 10, 2025

A special story

15 months ago, the Saricicek family fled Turkey for political reasons. It suddenly became Too dangerous for the family: Father, mother, and three sons, Ahmet (17), Bilal (15), and Vahap (13), left Antalya on the spur of the moment, leaving all their belongings behind. They eventually ended up at the COA (Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) in Amsterdam via Biddinghuizen, and intermediary Mark Aardenburg put them in touch with the Youth Fund Amsterdam. We went to visit them there.

Dutch language

All three of them already speak incredibly good Dutch, thanks to their school, they say, where they receive 22 hours of Dutch lessons a week. They're also good at math, no wonder, considering their mother was a math teacher in Turkey. Their father worked in education for autistic children but was fired for his political beliefs.

Her mother also speaks excellent Dutch, which she considers very important because she wants to help her children. "To be able to participate fully in this society, speaking and writing correct Dutch is paramount. She herself had a fantastic language partner, but unfortunately, he passed away. Now she's taking a new Dutch course through Right 2 Education."

Learned at a young age...

Father is an enthusiastic chess player and taught his sons from a very young age, from the age of 5^th, chess. Now they attend the Isolani chess club and have lessons every Thursday with Jan Nijhof, and Rafıek Mohamedjoesoef loves it. The eldest, Ahmet, is the best, according to his brothers, and is making a name for himself in the Amsterdam chess world. He recently won the Chaturanga Grand Prix 2024 and took first place in the Science Park Open tournament held this summer, scoring 8.5 out of 9. They play chess against each other for over an hour a day.

Impressed

Besides chess, they naturally fill their time with homework, cycling, hiking, and playing ping-pong at the asylum seekers' center. This family has incredible strength, humor, and perseverance, despite their difficult situation. We said goodbye amidst much laughter. "Thank you for the chess lessons; my children are so much happier. They really learn a lot at chess club: it's also so good for their Dutch, and they make new friends," their mother concludes.

My children are so much happier! They're really learning a lot at chess club: it's so good for their Dutch, and they're making new friends.