“Here there is freedom for the women to talk about their own pain, sadness and concerns,” says Shima. “But it also provides more independence and self-confidence.” Some are out of work or waiting for a status to work. In the studio, Shima sees that the women feel more socially involved and practice the Dutch language. Different languages are constantly intertwined in the studio. It alternates between Farsi, Dutch, English and Arabic. “Sometimes it’s complicated, but we understand each other,” says Shima.