She knows what it's like to settle in a foreign country. She knows the challenges you face if you don't have a network and don't speak the language. But Alina Totti has now found her place - and her calling. As a policy advisor for the Province of North Brabant, she is committed to improving the position of migrant workers and other internationals. And there is still a world to be won.

You are from Romania but have also lived and worked in the United States, Finland, and Belgium. How did you eventually end up in the Netherlands?

“When I worked in Brussels as a political advisor, I was in a relationship with a Dutchman. He said to me: ‘Come to the Netherlands. Everyone speaks English there. It's easy to find a job there.’ That sounded good, but the truth was different.”

What was the truth then?

“Although it is true that the Dutch speak excellent English, this does not mean that it is easy to find a job in English, especially if you are not an engineer. It was not easy at all to settle here. In fact, after six months of applying, I still didn't have a job. I received no responses to my applications. If you don't move forward, it gnaws at you. Then the corona pandemic broke out. It didn't look good, but something positive happened.”

What happened?

“I encountered the USR, a Romanian political party that works for Romanians abroad. That is an important topic, because there are many Romanians who work abroad under poor conditions, such as seasonal workers and parcel delivery people. On behalf of the USR, I posted online messages about the Dutch corona measures. I then received numerous messages from Romanians who had lost their jobs and housing during the pandemic. That touched me deeply and so I made it my mission to work on their behalf.”

Did that mission also lead to your current work as a policy advisor to the Province of North Brabant?

“Yes, I eventually ended up at the Province through my network. First, they asked me to carry out research on seasonal workers, then to help develop policy. Of course, I didn't do that alone, I was part of a team. I was asked to do this because of my direct experience with the target group. That research was desperately needed because it is a fact that the labour market is internationalising. There are too few Dutch people to do all the work, so companies look across the borders. But a good employee is more than someone who does the job the right way. There are many factors that determine whether someone functions well in a foreign environment. The climate, culture, living environment, social circle, the extent to which partners and children feel at home. Everything has an effect. We think it is important to look at all factors and we convey that message to employers and other stakeholders.”

At STE Languages we recognise what you say. For example, a recent poll among students showed that 36% experience difficulties with integration into society. Learning the Dutch language was the most significant stumbling block (60%), followed by contact with Dutch people (18%) and experiencing problems with Dutch culture (15%). Do you recognise that image?

“Of course. I clearly see a 'Dutch bubble' and an 'international bubble'. Interaction between the two bubbles is difficult, they coexist. It would be good if we could burst those bubbles. This also means that it is important for internationals to learn the language.”

However, there are many internationals who do not learn Dutch and continue to focus on English. What would you like to say to them?

“You're missing out! Of course, you can get by in English, but without Dutch you miss many aspects of society. If you speak the language, you participate more easily, you understand everything better and you feel more comfortable. However, I know from personal experience that it is difficult to combine work with learning a language. That is also one of the reasons why I think employers should take this into account when bringing internationals and their partners to the Netherlands.”

Is that also the reason why you are now working on your Dutch language skills through individual language training?

“Certainly. Dutch is the official language of the Province. I could already have a conversation in the supermarket, but I found it difficult to really discuss substantive policy documents. For this you need to have considerable language skills, but fortunately at STE I can increase my vocabulary in a very targeted manner. I have a good relationship with my language trainer, Simone. I talk to her about topics that concern me every day, such as labour migration, the Dutch elections and EU policy.”

Can you pinpoint a specific moment when you first noticed that language training was having an effect?

“When I was reading the Provincial Administrative Agreement a while ago, I had to stop less frequently to look up words. I have become familiar with terms such as draagvlek (support base), verkenning (exploration), knelpunt (bottleneck) and laagdrempelig (accessible). These are not words that you quickly learn on a standard Dutch course.”

How did you encounter STE Languages?

“I was introduced to STE during a meeting of the Holland Expat Center South (HECS) and the Expat Spouse Initiative (ESI). Supported by the Province, they carry out joint projects aimed at integrating partners, also in the professional field. While expats receive plenty of help and guidance, partners are often left behind. The ESI and HECS want to do something about this and STE is also committed to this. That matched my own motivation, so it made sense for me to take language training at STE.”

One of the ESI and HECS activities is the Women for Women Programme. What is the purpose of this programme and what is your role in it?

“This is a mentor programme in which participants are individually coached, for three months, in finding a job. It is a programme for and by women. The coaches are usually Dutch women with an extensive network. This gives an economic problem a human approach and that is very special. Brabant is leading the way in this. I was one of the ambassadors for Women for Women. As a policy officer, I am committed to drawing attention to this programme through my network.”

That sounds like a very concrete way to make a difference. Has your work at the Province already led to tangible results?

“Of course. Since 1st January 2024, information centres for migrant workers have been opened in five Brabant cities with the support of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, various municipalities, and other organizations including employers and trade unions. This is akin to what the HECS does, but for migrant workers. This is a vulnerable group that is often exploited, partly because they have too little information. They often do not know what their rights are or where they can get reliable information. With these support points we make the threshold a lot lower. Information is offered in several languages, such as Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Bulgarian and Hungarian. Moreover, people can easily ask questions there.”

You are a candidate for the European Parliament. What is your ultimate dream as an MEP?

“Many migrant workers feel like second-class citizens. They are overlooked, treated poorly and do not benefit from the advantages that highly educated expats have, such as freedom of movement. That affects me deeply and I would like to change that. I strive for a Europe where everyone has equal opportunities and is treated equally. This is also in the interest of Europe itself, because the international labour market is changing. As Europe, if we want to remain competitive as Europe, we must work together.”