At SpikeUp.AI, partnerships help turn opportunity into real impact. One of these valuable collaborations is with the Deloitte Impact Foundation, which supports initiatives that create positive change in society. Through this partnership, Deloitte employees can volunteer their time and expertise to support organizations like SpikeUp.AI.
One of those volunteers is Duné, a passionate mentor and soft skills trainer who is helping refugees build new futures in the Netherlands.
A passion for helping people
Originally from South Africa, Duné studied criminology and psychology before moving to the United Kingdom and later to the Netherlands. She began her career as an intelligence analyst, developed deeper technical skills while working in the UK, then joined a start‑up in the Netherlands focused on collaborative approaches to fighting financial crime. She eventually joined Deloitte as a Senior Consultant in Financial Crime Technology.
Helping others has always been central to who she is. So when she joined Deloitte and learned about the possibility of volunteering through the Deloitte Impact Foundation, joining SpikeUp.AI felt like a natural choice.
As someone who also experienced moving to a new country and adapting to a different culture, Duné immediately felt connected to the experience of refugees trying to create a new life in the Netherlands.
Why Duné joined SpikeUp.AI
The Deloitte Impact Foundation supports initiatives related to education, sustainability and inclusivity. In addition to providing financial support, Deloitte encourages employees to volunteer their skills and time through pro bono projects and partnerships with NGOs, social enterprises and educational organisations.
For Duné, SpikeUp.AI stood out for another important reason: the opportunity to volunteer in English. Many volunteer initiatives in the Netherlands require Dutch, which can make it difficult for international professionals to contribute. At SpikeUp.AI, Duné found a way to make a meaningful impact using her professional expertise and communication skills.
She joined SpikeUp.AI shortly after starting at Deloitte and she loved it right away.
Mentoring refugees and teaching soft skills
Since then, Duné has been actively involved in supporting refugees at SpikeUp.AI. She mentors participants, helps them grow in confidence, and also delivers soft skills training. This year, she is mentoring two refugees dedicating one hour per week and teaching a soft skills class which takes about three hours in total.
Her commitment shows how professional volunteering can directly support newcomers ‘education, integration, and career development. Duné describes the experience with great enthusiasm:
“I just love to be part of their journey. They are so motivated to learn, so eager to integrate. It gives you energy to see that, and their personal experience is so inspiring at the same time.”
Her support goes beyond practical advice. She brings encouragement, empathy, and belief in each participant’s potential. That human connection is one of the most important parts of the SpikeUp.AI program.
The impact of mentorship
One story in particular show the value of this work. Duné mentored a refugee who graduated from SpikeUp.AI last year and is now also working at Deloitte. What started as a mentoring relationship has grown into a friendship.
This is exactly the kind of impact SpikeUp.AI aims to create: helping refugees develop the skills, confidence, and professional network needed to start meaningful careers in data and technology. For Duné, the reward of volunteering is clear:
“It is a great privilege to help somebody. It doesn’t take anything from you, while you are making a huge impact, and by doing this you get so much in return. ”
A partnership that creates opportunity
We are deeply grateful to Duné for her energy, dedication, and generosity, and to the Deloitte Impact Foundation for making this support possible.
This partnership shows how companies can play an important role in supporting refugees, promoting inclusion, and creating access to education and employment opportunities. By encouraging employee volunteering, Deloitte helps create lasting impact not only for individuals, but for the wider community as well.
How you can support SpikeUp.AI
At SpikeUp.AI, we believe there are many ways to help. Companies and individuals can support our mission through mentoring, training, partnerships, and other forms of involvement.
If you would like to help newcomers build a future in data and tech, join the SpikeUp.AI journey,
