Somewhere in Antwerp, Dima is getting ready for her first day of work as a logistics employee. She was a surgeon in Palestine. She speaks four languages. She waited years for a decision on her asylum application.
She is a refugee. But that doesn't define her. It's more about what opportunities society offers her and the space it provides for her to build a new life. Because her future also determines society's future.
Here are three things to know about refugees on International Refugee Day.
âś… Most refugees are hosted in "developing" countries
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), at the end of 2025, 118 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to wars, violence, persecution, or human rights violations. This represents 1 in 70 people on Earth. 42 million people are defined as refugees, meaning they have sought protection in another country and cannot safely return to their country of origin.
Yet, wealthier "Western" countries host only a small portion of them. 68% of refugees are hosted in countries bordering their countries of origin, which are low- or middle-income.
In Belgium, approximately 35,000 people applied for protection in 2025. The Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRA) ultimately recognized 28.4% of applicants as needing protection.
"Forced" migration is therefore a global challenge, largely handled by the least prepared countries.
âś… Being a refugee is not an identity in itself
In public discourse, the term "refugee" is often used as a category in itself. As if it were a homogeneous group, with the same needs and backgrounds.
But behind this word are doctors, engineers, teachers, electricians, lawyers, students, parents, and entrepreneurs. Rich and poor people. Resilient, troubled, creative, entrepreneurial individuals. In short, this "group" encompasses a whole diversity of human beings and life paths.
« I worked day and night in a war zone in Gaza. I had invested ten years of my life to become a doctor. I was good at what I did. Here, I went to a temp agency. I speak Arabic, perfect English, good Dutch, and French too. The temp agency sent me to work in logistics for a port company. It was my only option... So when people talk about 'motivation'... for what? »
- Dima, a young person supported by DUO for a JOB
At DUO for a JOB, we have been supporting refugees for years. Of the 3,600 refugees supported by the association :
đź“Ś 74% already had professional experience abroad.
đź“Ś 64% had professional experience in Belgium.
Many have a degree, but it is difficult, and in some cases even impossible, to get it recognized here. The language barrier, a limited network, and unfamiliarity with the codes of the Belgian labor market also play a role.
But these are surmountable obstacles. With a DUO for a JOB mentor, 7 out of 10 refugees find sustainable employment or training.
âś… Dignified reception allows refugees to unlock their potential
Obtaining refugee status can be a lengthy process. This period often involves a long migratory journey, with months, or even years of waiting for a decision on the asylum application. Today, the right to reception is not guaranteed. And the rights of migrants are increasingly under pressure : access to social assistance or social housing subject to strict conditions, stricter rules for family reunification, restrictions on obtaining Belgian nationality, etc.
A person stressed by administrative or financial worries, without family support, without a recognized diploma, is someone for whom it is difficult to fully develop their career path.
« If an unexpected €100 expense came up this week, I might have to sleep on the street tomorrow. I don't have any family here. If I had family here, they could help me, but I live alone. And I'm told that if I don't find a job, I'll eventually lose my integration income too. »
— Dima, mentee
After 5 years, 29 to 37% of recognized refugees have a job; after ten years, this figure rises to 50%. Most people (81%) have had one or more job experiences during this period, but the jobs are often short-term and unstable. Sustainable employment remains the major challenge.
Guaranteeing social rights and tailored support is therefore not 'charity'. It's a collective choice that benefits everyone. Every talent left untapped is a missed opportunity for society as a whole.
Investing in a dignified welcome, investing in society
Refugees are people full of talent, experience, dreams, and ambitions, who want to contribute to society. A society that offers opportunities and provides a dignified welcome is a society that allows refugees to find their place.
On World Refugee Day, DUO for a JOB asks the question: what do we want to offer to these people who want to rebuild their lives here?Â
In our opinion, the answer must be twofold.
đź“ŚGuaranteeing their rights
đź“ŚEnsuring a dignified welcome and supportive assistance
Because a society that invests in a dignified welcome invests in itself.
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Discover DUO for a JOB and its impact here.
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