Gianni da Costa, a 40-year-old community worker for the Protestant diaconate in Amsterdam, dedicates his life to supporting undocumented immigrants and providing them with educational opportunities. He emphasizes that their undocumented status is an experience, not their identity.

Da Costa runs the Giving Back Projects weekend school, which serves 150 children without residence permits. The school relies on donations to survive, and while the municipality acknowledges its value, it does not offer financial assistance.

Originally from Angola, Da Costa moved to the Netherlands at 17 with his brothers to pursue higher education. He initially studied commerce and entrepreneurship to fulfill his parents’ wishes but later felt unfulfilled. A personal heartbreak led him to reconnect with his faith and pursue a career in diaconal community work.

He became involved with undocumented immigrants through a Brazilian church in Amsterdam, where he tutored the child of a Brazilian woman. This eventually led to him tutoring ten children, marking the beginning of the Giving Back Projects weekend school.

Da Costa aims to empower undocumented children by instilling in them the belief that their status should not define them. He encourages them to pursue education and increase their opportunities, despite the challenges they face. He also advocates for their right to education, even after they turn 18, a right that is often denied to them.

Da Costa’s political activism stems from his indignation towards the treatment of undocumented immigrants in the Netherlands. He joined the ChristenUnie to advocate for their rights at the political level.

He strongly opposes the criminalization of aid to illegal immigrants and believes in upholding values of solidarity and mutual support. Da Costa remains committed to his ideals and hopes to secure funding for the weekend school to continue providing educational opportunities for these young people.

He is inspired by David Brooks’ book, “The Second Mountain,” which emphasizes the importance of helping others in finding meaning and happiness in life.