A smile that builds bridges

On January 17, 1983, Olenga Okita was born in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to the capital, Kinshasa, where he spent the first ten years of his life. He grew up in a loving but difficult environment. His mother and stepfather kept the family together, even as the political instability of the Mobutu regime overshadowed their daily lives. "My stepfather was often away because he was politically active," Olenga recalls. Still, he remembers a happy childhood with his two siblings in vibrant Kinshasa: playing barefoot soccer in the streets and enjoying the small pleasures of everyday life. The political situation in the country was tense, and he lived through the turbulent times of the Mobutu regime. The fate of his family took a dramatic turn when his stepfather, who had been fighting against the dictatorial rule of Mobutu Sese Seko, was assassinated in 1992, forcing the family to flee.

After the murder of her stepfather, Olenga's mother decided to leave Congo with her eldest son. Their goal: safety in Europe. Olenga's uncle, who had been studying in Mainz since 1988, helped organize the escape. For the then ten-year-old, the situation was difficult to comprehend. All Olenga knew was that they were getting on a plane to Brussels. Since he was attending a private Belgian school in the Congo at the time, this "vacation destination" seemed logical to him. But the escape was dangerous. With the help of the pilot, the mother and sons managed to board the plane unnoticed through the crew entrance. In Brussels, they were taken directly to a guarded reception camp. Daily life in the camp was strictly regulated and filled with uncertainty. "I remember the restricted curfew and the fears that many people had there. But my mother was always confident," says Olenga. After two months, they were allowed to leave the camp and moved in with her uncle in Mainz. But after three months, he was uprooted from his familiar surroundings again. Applying for asylum, the family ended up in a refugee home in Eschwege, Hesse.

In Eschwege, Olenga began a new life - a life in a completely different world. It was August 1993, and he was in the fourth grade. Suddenly, a short, blond boy from the former GDR sat down next to him. Both were "different" and were bullied by their classmates. But that's exactly what brought the two boys together: they became best friends - a bond that still holds today. Life in the refugee home was marked by hardship, but Olenga remembers it as a happy time. Sports, in particular, helped him put down new roots. "A tennis ball I got at a fundraiser at the refugee home was very special to me," he says. But when he went to the tennis club, no one wanted to play with him. Instead, he discovered a passion for basketball and soccer. In 2000, he and his mother moved to Dublin because she could not get a work permit in Germany and saw no future for herself. But after a year, Olenga returned to Eschwege, where he finally received a residence permit. Thanks to his athletic achievements, he was well known there and got a job in a sports shop. Since this was not an apprenticeship company, he began an apprenticeship in food retailing in 2003 and stayed with the company until 2019. In the meantime, he completed his vocational baccalaureate and a degree in business administration. However, there were no opportunities for professional development within the company.

Despite his sound education and fluency in French, German and English, his numerous applications to other companies were unsuccessful. When he received an invitation to an interview at K+S AG in 2019, it was a turning point for Olenga. He was very excited and nervous because he had waited so long for this great opportunity. But it was worth it: he became part of the ITSC team and received great support from his manager, Karin Wiegand, right from the start. "I was welcomed with open arms at K+S. The diversity that the company promotes is really lived here," he says. After two years, Olenga moved to the Customer Supply Chain Salt department, where he still works today. His workday is full of variety: He supports international customers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Eastern Europe, is responsible for order management and transport planning, and coordinates with logistics service providers. "Troubleshooting and working with different partners is what makes the job exciting," he says. His current manager, Dr. Carmen Walczyk, supports him with great dedication. At K+S AG, Olenga has not only found colleagues, but also true friends.

In addition to his professional commitments, Olenga is a true family man. He lives in Kassel with his wife, a police inspector, and their two children. "My family gives me the strength and motivation I need," he says. The two children share Olenga's passion for sports: in addition to athletics training and basketball, they play tennis at the KTC Bad Wilhelmshöhe, fulfilling Olenga's childhood dream. The family enjoys traveling and discovering new places, but Olenga has a special favorite: the mountains of South Tyrol. "I find peace and inspiration there," he reveals. Despite all the traveling, Kassel remains the center of his life - a place where he and his family are at home.