'With strong willpower, things will work out'

foto Imrane (1)

Imrane Aboulhadi (23) Sports Studies student did an internship at Triple Threat and is now setting up his own youth movement Onside in Amsterdam Osdorp. His efforts are being seen: in 2022 he won the Hbo Hero of the Year.

Everything I do, I do from passion
'I only do things I like and support. That's why the hours I put in don't feel so much. From my first year of Sports Science, I was involved in entrepreneurship. Everything I do, I do from passion. I always try to take the positive out of a situation and help others and myself. That may be why I work ten times harder, but I don't feel that way. With strong willpower, things work out.

My first venture was called Absolution Sports Management. I used sports as a tool to address social problems. Think of exercise with the elderly or sports with children with autism. I built my own website, set up social media, and spread flyers around. I found it appreciative work but missed the target group I most wanted to reach. Young people from Osdorp.

Big Brother as a Role Model
'I was born and grew up in Osdorp. I noticed that my own friends were going in the wrong direction. They had no good example, no role model. I did have that, which was my brother. Nowadays, you see fathers less aware of what is happening outside. I had a brother who did know. How dangerous it is to stay outside too long with the wrong friends. So I got a sense of responsibility early on. You don't have to be a brother but you can act as a big brother role model.

That is why I am now making a new start with the movement Onside. With this, I help young people towards self-reliance. I use sports and culture as a tool. We play soccer together, and I organize contact moments to chill out together. I want to surround them with positivity and role models. Meanwhile, we build a bond of trust.'

A movement you want to belong to
'We're nothing official yet. We have an Instagram, that's it. A movement is something you want to belong to and be a part of. The young people influence what, how, and when we do it. I hope the young people find it cool to be with me and see that I'm living my boyhood dream. You see on Instagram a lot of fakes and expensive cars. On Instagram, you never hear anyone say 'go to school.' You only hear 'go into the business early'. School is important to you. Get that piece of paper. Should things go wrong later, your degree will provide a backup. I show that as a normal boy from the neighborhood, through school and hard work, you can end up well. They can achieve this too.'

The moment that changed my life
‘When I was just starting out in business, I came in contact with Start Up Campus Haarlem. I came in with questions and got good help and advice. At SUCH, I met Okrah and Nick from Triple Threat and talked about my venture. From that moment on, my life changed. I had many ideas and wanted to do so much. Okrah and Nick believed in me. They connected me with their team and dared to invest in me. I also ended up doing my internship with them and that changed a lot. As a result, they helped me build Onside.’

Dare to ask questions
"I've been so lucky with my teachers. Kris, Bart, Tim, Denise, and I hope I'm not forgetting anyone. Kris was my mentor during the first year. Before I had even started entrepreneurship, he gave me the words I needed to hear.

To all students considering entrepreneurship, I would say: dare! Dare to take that step, but also prepare. Read up. Make sure you are already working on what you want to be in entrepreneurship. Dare to ask questions. Dare to fall down. It's part of it."