Doğukan Ergin

Biography

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today"

This is a quote from Malcolm X. Although my grandfather came to the Netherlands in the late 1960s, I still face the same challenges I did back in the day. We owe it to the next generation to make progress, which is why I am working for a future in which everyone gets the opportunities they deserve.

Double standards

The Netherlands is a country full of double standards: in education, on the streets, in politics. Some groups are treated differently, face different expectations and are held to different standards. I have always had to put in 200% just to get 100% in return. I want to fight for a world in which you reap what you sow, regardless of your identity.

Hope

Even if you miss out on that exciting new job or fantastic apartment, the last thing you should lose is hope. I am fuelled by hope. When DENK came up, I realised that it takes more than words and opinions to make a change, it takes action.

Persistence pays off

There are countless people in this country with problems and no way out, and I care deeply about freeing up time to help find a solution. I am always looking to engage with people and see what I can do for them. You can always change something, even in the most complicated of situations. It may take patience and hard work, but I am brimming with energy and will keep pushing for improvement year after year. I always persevere, because persistence pays off.