After several years of clarification and various internships, 24-year-old Adisa Egrlic has been permanently employed in a flexible job at Grenaa Port. Here, she has been given more responsibility, greater independence and, not least, a workplace where she feels comfortable, at her own pace.
For 24-year-old Adisa Egrlic, getting behind the wheel of the Grenaa Port van has become a regular Monday routine. She drives the van confidently and confidently to the local supermarket, where she buys fruit, milk, sparkling water and cold cuts. When the van is loaded, she rolls towards the port's operations department, unloads and prepares the fruit for the department's employees. Then it's off to Port Centre , Grenaa Port's administration building, where fruit is also unloaded and prepared.
Today, it has become a regular part of her workweek. But the first time she had to drive alone, it was a big and challenging task.
“I remember it was a bit nerve-wracking. I wasn’t used to driving a van or an automatic transmission. I also had to drive into the port’s commercial area, where there are a lot of large vehicles to keep an eye on. At first, I thought it was a very big task to give to someone like me,” says Adisa Egrlic with a wry smile.
The first few times she rode with her colleague Anne. Here Adisa could see how the task was solved, and then decide when she was ready to try it alone.
“I was allowed to take it at my own pace. When I had to go on my own for the first time, I actually felt pretty ready. Now I've become completely comfortable with it.”
Throughout most of her young life, Adisa Egrlic has had difficulty finding her place in the world and struggling to figure out which education and work life would be best for her, and the skills and interests she brings with her.
"I have been through several assessments, and my youth has been characterized by anxiety and OCD. I have had a really hard time getting out into the world. And I have been nervous about getting to know new people and what they think of me."
At the age of 18, she began a course through Norddjurs Municipality. An important part of the process was finding out what she would thrive with in a workplace and what kind of framework she needed.
"I found out how much I was capable of and what I liked to do. I am very organized and tidy, and I have an eye for detail."
She had the opportunity to use this during an internship at Grenaa Library that lasted about two years. She knew the library very well from her childhood, and the calm environment and the work of putting books in their place suited her well.
Later, an internship at a junior club under Ung Norddjurs followed. Here, Adisa Erglic helped create creative activities for the children and was able to put her great interest in drawing into play.
“It was very much outside my comfort zone, but I liked it.”
The different courses each gave her the opportunity to try out new sides of herself. But they also meant several years where she didn't know exactly where she would ultimately land in the job market.
From internship at the port to greater responsibility
In August 2024, Adisa Erglic, as part of Ungeløftet, a national partnership that aims to help young people without jobs or education get closer to the labor market through, among other things, collaboration with local companies, began an internship at Grenaa Port.
Here too, it took time to settle into the new surroundings.
“I was nervous about meeting a lot of new people and what they would think of me. It's hard to start from scratch and have to adapt to a completely new work environment.”
She started with specific tasks such as preparing meeting rooms and cleaning the coffee machine. Like other internships Adisa Erglic has been in, she started with a few hours. After that, both working hours and tasks are coordinated with the individual.
For Adisa, it gradually became three days a week, three hours each, and more tasks that she could complete independently.
Along the way, she spent three months in Japan, which has a very special place in her heart, on a language trip with two friends.
"There I had to be responsible for everything myself. I could feel afterwards that it had done something for my independence."
Back at Grenaa Port, she continued to try new tasks. Together with her job consultant and colleagues at the port, the focus was on how she could become more independent during the working day. This is where the shopping trip in the van came into the picture.
When Adisa Erglic is not shopping and solving other practical tasks, she can also be seen moving calmly and almost silently between the offices at the port to water the potted plants that are placed in the employees' offices.
“I don't really know much about plants, even though I grew up in an allotment garden where we grew a lot of vegetables. But I like dealing with living things, and people are always nice when I come around the offices.”
Room for different paths into working life
Adisas Egrlic's course is an example of the approach to young people and working communities that the Port of Grenaa formalized in 2025 through its commitment to the Youth Promise.
The Youth Promise is a national partnership between, among others, businesses, civil society actors, social partners, main organizations and the Danish Association of Local Authorities. In Norddjurs Municipality, the goal is to create space in local businesses for approximately 300 young people who are outside the labor market or the education system.
As a partner, the Port of Grenaa has committed to welcoming young people and creating practical courses where tasks and frameworks are adapted to the individual as much as possible.
"As a workplace, we really want to help create meaningful frameworks where young people can grow, find direction and become part of a working community. We hope that we can help motivate young people and give them the opportunity to experience that what they bring has value," says Anne Timmann, internship manager at Grenaa Havn.
For Adisa, it has been important that the development has been able to happen gradually.
“It means an awful lot”
After about a year and a half of internship, Adisa Erglic has been employed in a flexible job at the Port of Grenaa.
“It means a lot that I am now a permanent employee. I like being here. Everyone is nice and considerate, and it is great to know that I can stay. It gives me a peace of mind that I have not felt before. It is a great relief,” she says, emphasizing with more strength in her voice:
"My parents are also very happy. They have been there through it all and have seen how difficult it has been at times. Now my everyday life is much more stable, and I have a decent income."
She especially appreciates the good colleagues and the opportunity to develop herself:
“I work at the reception, and my colleagues there coordinate my work tasks. It's just so nice to work with Anne and Maria. It always feels quiet and calm, and there's a good atmosphere. It's not strict and rigid here.”
At the same time, Adisa is open to new tasks.
"You can put me to almost anything if needed. Now I can feel that I am ready to try even more new tasks – even things I don't usually do."
A creative life outside of work
When Adisa is not at work, she spends a lot of her time drawing, cosplaying (a hobby where you dress up as characters from movies, series, computer games and comics, among other things), and going to fairs and conferences. She draws especially photorealistic portraits and has made friends and acquaintances all over Denmark through the cosplay community.
"The coolest thing is to be surrounded by like-minded people who understand you and love the same things. Community really means a lot."
Although creativity takes up a lot of space, Adisa wants to keep her hobby and work separate. Being creative and drawing should be something she does because she wants to.
And right now she has found herself well settled at Grenaa Port:
“Right now I can feel that Grenaa Port is a place I want to stay for a long time.”
