Leuke School in Groningen: learning by doing!

Stichting Goed Bezig is a foundation in Groningen that offers a number of work projects, particularly technical ones, for young people who are distanced from school, work or society. In their Leuke School (Fun School) project, the aim is to provide a new type of education. This is to become a school where young people can choose what they wish to learn and can then learn by ‘doing’ it. By collaborating closely with practical education facilities and companies who have a closely defined demand for employees, the Leuke School wishes to considerably increase the opportunities for these young people to find a job and to connect with society. This project is sponsored by Yvonne Sierra Fernandez of Axians and Bert Buitjes formerly of Actemium.

A New Opportunity in Utrecht: tailor-made work!

Stichting De Nieuwe Waarde is a foundation in Utrecht that supervises people with a labour market disadvantage, in finding a job. Are there no suitable options? De Nieuwe Waarde then offers them tailor-made daily work in the foundation’s own second-hand stores. These stores are used for (supervision of) work, training and practical experience for these people. Een Nieuwe Kans (new opportunity) project offers people a structural and safe working and learning environment in which they can prepare for a ‘proper’ job in positions such as driver, salesperson, web designer, designer, communications employee, supervisor, warehouse employee of for example repairs employee. Freek Karel Mathieu Cox of Axians is the sponsor of this project.

Talentontwikkeling = Top sport in Rotterdam

Via Excelsior4All foundation, the Rotterdam-based Excelsior club wishes to contribute not only to the sporting but also to the social and economic development of the region in which it was founded and settled. In the Talentontwikkeling = Topsport (Talent development = top-level sport) programme, the foundation offers underprivileged women a 10-week training course in which they can work on their sporting, personal and professional development.

The supported project includes the improvement of content of the training courses by making use of experience from previous training courses. An online portal has been developed for that purpose, in order to render the many administrative aspects of the training courses more efficiently and effectively manageable. This leaves more time for actual coaching of the women. This project is sponsored by Hanneke van Paradijs of VINCI Facilities.