RADARMAGAZINE On the go with the Overvecht Neighbourhood Team | Every child deserves a safe home | How do you cope with poverty? | The Radicalisation Awareness Network | Radarites in view | Dreaming, deliberating and doing: the RadarAdvies | Entrepreneurs’ Chamber Omar Ramadan’s column ‘The Netherlands is not your country’
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF RADAR #samenmeerimpact #moreimpacttogether
www.radar-groep.nl
info@radar-groep.nl
Contents 4 8
Preface
The Radar Group in view
On the go with the Overvecht Neighbourhood Team ‘‘We threw
ourselves into it’
13
is not your country’
Omar Ramadan’s column ‘The Netherlands
14
you cope with poverty?
Four Radarites in view
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Entrepreneurs’ Chamber
30
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18
How do
Dreaming, deliberating and doing: the
24
Every child deserves a safe home
From Thorleif to Habiba: about the Radicalisation Awareness Network
34
This is what we do
Imprint RadarMagazine is a RadarGroep BV publication and is distributed to clients, business associates and other interested parties. Copyright © 2018 RadarGroep BV Articles in RadarMagazine may only be copied with written permission from RadarGroep BV Editing Public Cinema (www.public-cinema.com), Steven Lenos, Diederik Ludwig, Marvin Musch, David Sondorp, Bart Verhagen (RadarGroep) Editor-in-chief/Image editing Manon Colson, Victor Wollaert Final Editing Diederik Ludwig Art Direction Marleen van der Veer Design Marleen van der Veer, Jetske Voorneveld Illustrations Marije Dudink, Marleen van der Veer Text Nina Blanken, Manon Colson Photography Peter de Krom, Geisje van der Linden, Joke Schut, Bob van der Vlist, Victor Wollaert Printing Drukkerij Tesink BV Translation Intrasoft Intl. Contact info@radaradvies.nl, info@radarvertige.nl, info@radarpersoneel.nl
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Erik Oeloff Director RadarGroep
Bart Verhagen Director RadarGroep
4
THE ART AND SKILL OF CONNECTING Bart Verhagen & Erik Oeloff
Radar has been active in the people and government field of influence
These tasks are greater than the Netherlands alone. This is evident in is-
within the social domain for 28 years. We are not driven by our own in-
sues concerning safety, unemployment and refugees. The realisation that
terests, but the interests of others; we aim to make a difference. We show
we will achieve more together and learn through actions also applies in
courage and are willing to look at things from a different perspective. We
a European context. In providing advice, training and personnel services
take a hands-on approach and build sustainable solutions together with
and operational units, Radar understands better than anyone the art and
professionals and citizens. As such, we operate at all levels of society and
skill of connecting, and this has proven to be our company’s more impor-
firmly believe that this is necessary to effect real change. This is the very
tant competency. Radar not only connects citizens, local governments,
essence of our company, enabling us to create value for our clients, for
neighbourhood initiatives and providers, but also European countries.
society and, indeed, for ourselves. The scope and tempo of the change
More meaning, more value, more collectivity and, therefore, more impact
task in the Netherlands are high and local authorities increasingly recog-
– these are the sum of our mission. We are pleased to present the first
nise the transformation of Youth Assistance, Participation and the Social
edition of RadarMagazine. It is a magazine full of stories from profes-
Care Act as a common quest to achieve the desired renewal. Our clients
sionals, citizens and co-workers about current topics in the social domain
seek approaches and initiatives that are appealing and offer a reference
such as opportunities, success, challenges and aspirations. The aim is to
point to continue the renewal at a local, regional and also national level.
connect, inform and to inspire. Have a great read!
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R AD AR ADVIES Radaradvies.nl
WHAT
Improving performance in the social domain
HOW
• Improve strategy and organisation • Complex policy implementation • Audit office and other investigation and policy evaluation
FOCUS
• Direction of, and buying in of youth assistance • Preventing radicalisation • Restructuring work and income • Participation at bottom of labour market • Embedding social enterprise • Renewal of welfare and social work • Further development of social district teams • Transformation of protected living • Integration of status holders
WHO
RADAR VERTIGE R ADAR EUROPE Radareurope.nl
WHAT
Improving performance in the social domain by interchange within EU
HOW
• Managing EU-wide projects • Holding training courses • Evaluation investigation and policy advice
FOCUS
• RAN Centre of Excellence, an EU-wide network and centre of excellence for prevention of radicalisation • Interchange among member states about work, participation and inclusion
Radarvertige.nl
WHAT
Teaching & development
HOW
• Custom learning and development courses • Blended learning and learning in the workplace • Large-scale teaching events • Education and teaching courses
FOCUS
• Aggression and resistance • Self-sufficiency and selfmanagement • Personal effectiveness and leadership • Intercultural communication • Supervision and enforcement
WHO
WHO 120 TRAINERS AND ACTORS 20 ADVISERS AND 50 EXPERT ASSOCIATES
50 ADVISERS AND 20 ASSOCIATES
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RADAR IN VIEW RADAR
PERSONEEL
CARE & WELFARE Radarpersoneel.nl
PARTICIPATION
WHAT
Personnel matters in the social domain: recruitment & selection, matching, secondment, education, systematic use of operational professionals
HOE • • • •
Rapid Flexible Reliable Detailed knowledge, experienced • Genuine involvement • Understanding of issues
FOCUS
• Youth protection, youth care and youth assistance • Veilig Thuis (Safe Home) • Social teams • Rehabilitation • Local authorities
RADARINCLUZIO Dutch Social Care Act Radar Strives for a society in which people care for each other and are dependent as little as possible on the government, professionals and service counters.. Neighbourhood Team Organisation Utrecht Sociaal With 18 neighbourhood teams, offers integral accessible basic care to inhabitants of Utrecht with the aim of encouraging self-sufficiency, activation and participation. Incluzio Hollands Kroon Supplies care and support to everyone in the Hollands Kroon municipality. This includes all activities in the context of youth care, the Social Care Act and the available facilities. RadarUitvoering is an innovative and energetic partner in care, welfare and guidance.
WHO +/- 60 PROFESSIONALS
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STADE ADVIES Advisory bureau for social development with the intention of contributing to the quality of society on a broad level. SEINPOST ADVISORY BUREAU Spatio-economic and social issues in villages, towns, cities and regions. ZKA CONSULTANTS Leading consultancy bureau in the leisure economy. DE OPVOEDPOLI De Opvoedpoli (Nurture Clinic) offers basic and specialised juvenile MHC, juvenile and nurturing assistance to families with offspring from 0-23 years old.
‘WE THREW OURSELVES INTO IT’ On the go with the Overvecht Neighbourhood Team
Things really had to change. This is why the Neighbourhood Team star ted a pilot in the Utrecht distr ict of Over vecht in 2014. Var ious professional social workers star ted to provide general basic social care in the distr ict. They changed from being specialised to general social workers, looking at all aspects of life. Much changed and structures swayed, but four years later can be said in total sincer ity that it was all wor th it. Text: Nina Blanken
Photography: Peter de Krom
For eleven years, Martin*, a highly-educated,
from the government, the specialised home
to provide general basic care. Where before
middle-aged man, received help from Tom.
care from which Martin had received so much
they were specialised social workers, now
Tom helped Martin for three hours every week
support, was suddenly ended. He was trans-
they would support and guide the residents
to look after his house, and also with his
ferred to the neighbourhood team in Overvecht,
of Utrecht with issues in all areas of life. In
paperwork and other practical matters. He gave
the Utrecht district where he lives.
addition to this, the team handles access to
Martin the specialised home care he needed.
specialised social work.
Midway through the eighties, Martin developed
Before the review of the care system, the
a psychosis, which was followed by 25 years of
social work provision was very fragmented: clients often had to deal with many social
psychiatry; in 2004, Tom arrived. Since then, Martin has led a fairly stable life. Through his volunteer work too, Martin had the feeling he was participating in society again. Sometimes it was hard, but once again, Tom was there. Like the time when Martin stopped his anti-psychot-
Martin took his medicine again, peace was restored and he even discussed cutting down the number of care hours with Tom.
workers from different bodies, and there was often a lack of an overall picture. Social workers were having to spend ever more time on recording and reporting, with hardly any time left for personalised work. Citizens perceived
ic drugs cold turkey, because someone on TV
the help as impersonal and distant, or as
had said that his medication had terrible side
experienced by 43-year-old ex-addict Bert, it was too casual. Bert could claim an additional
effects. Within two weeks he felt ready to be institutionalised again. Tom contacted Altrecht,
The pilot
six hundred-odd euros’ subsidy every year be-
a specialist in mental health care from Utrecht,
In 2014, one year before the decentralisation,
cause he was entitled to volunteer aid: “I had
and they prevented Martin’s admission. Martin
the Utrecht Neighbourhood Teams started
a barter arrangement with a pal. He was my
took his medicine again, peace was restored
a pilot in Overvecht. The team consisted of
volunteer carer and I was his. This was how we
and he even discussed cutting down the number
various professional social workers with much
both had a little fund for dope and alcohol.”
of care hours with Tom. But then in 2014, just
experience in the world of social care, wel
Does he miss it now? No, he is not sorry it has
before the local authority took over adult care
fare, work and living, all of whom would start
stopped because in his view, the government
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neighbourhood team member meindert de
Groot
at t h e f i s h s ta l l o n t h e m a r k e t
is now throwing a little less money away. For a
It caused structures to sway, but things really
meet together,” says Yvonne. “For example,
year, Bert has been working as a bike builder
had to change. “The neighbourhood team,”
we have walk-in surgeries in the library, in
at the Salvation Army’s 50|50 Work Centre:
says Willemijke, “is so close to the client that
care homes, at Burezina (a kind of living room
“Not for the volunteer allowance, but to
we can give more or less care right away. In the
where people can meet each other) and even
occupy my day. According to the Job Centre I
start-up phase it was still the intention that
at the fish stall on the market. This is how we
only have to do what I enjoy.”
we shouldn’t guide people for more than three
maintain contact with the residents without
Bert came into contact with the neighbour-
months, but practice very soon taught us that
home visits.”
hood team because he needed an Employment
this isn’t realistic. Sometimes one conversation
Activation indication for his work at 50|50.
is enough, sometimes a person needs long-
In Bert’s case, the neighbourhood team was
term guidance – it’s different for each person.
his introduction to specialist guidance but
The point, is that we do what’s needed.”
otherwise, as he says himself, he has little
Neighbourhood team member Yvonne Botter is
to do with the neighbourhood team. Only on
happy with the new way of working, although
Wednesdays when he comes along for an hour
she would sometimes like a little more support;
to repair bikes voluntarily: “Maybe I could still
not the fixed pattern of before, but a bit more
become an independent bike builder.”
structure. “It’s great that we can provide
“The neighbourhood team is so close to the client that we can give more or less care right away.”
personalised care, look at the possibilities and On the fish stall
are allowed to think outside the framework.
According to Willemijke de Vroom, Programme
But how far do you go in this? Together, we
Help from a friend
Manager of the Overvecht Neighbourhood
are continuously looking for the boundaries
Martin was unhappy with the transfer to the
Team, many people found the changeover
of generalised working.” Just like Willemijke,
brand new neighbourhood team, it made him
difficult: “The change wasn’t their own choice
Yvonne has been working with the Overvecht
uncertain. He missed the specialist support.
– they found out they were being transferred
neighbourhood team from the very start. “We’ve
During the transfer process, which lasted a
to the neighbourhood team, but they thought,
thrown ourselves into it,” says Yvonne, and it
few months, he met Henriek, his neighbour-
the neighbourhood team, who’s that? It’s
was worth it: “We’re so close to the district – this
hood team supervisor. Together they looked
logical that people found this hard. The
really makes the care more accessible.” Yvonne
at Martin’s social network and investigated
neighbourhood team wanted to do what was
and her colleagues do not only work from their
his situation. Henriek asked him what his
needed and that meant that not everyone
own building in the district. “We also go into the
days looked like, what he liked to do, what he
would receive the same as they had previously.
districts and sit in places where many residents
wanted to do himself, and where he needed
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10
11
in the
‘neighbourhood
living room’ burezina
help. They found out that Martin mainly wanted
been getting help from a female friend. She
practical help. In the 80s and 90s, Martin
helps him to maintain his home and is paid to
was institutionalised twice due to the fact he
do this. Although she has less time for him than
neglected to maintain his house. Cleaning
the local authority, the good social connection
teams, the Utrecht municipality put out an
teams cleaned his house but that ought not to
has proved to be more important than the
invitation to tender. RadarIncluzio won and
happen to him again. So, Henriek and Martin
number of hours. Henriek and Martin do still
founded the Buurtteamorganisatie Sociaal
rolled their sleeves up together a couple of
see each other very occasionally either in the
(Social Neighbourhood Team Organisation)
times. They washed the windows and curtains
community centre or on the street – Overvecht
Foundation. RadarAdvies was involved in the
and drank coffee. It became quite clear that
is not that big. If it is necessary, he will phone
setting up and design of the organisation
Martin really could not cope without support.
Henriek, but at the moment, things are going
from the start in 2014. RadarVertige took care
Henriek arranged help via the Dutch Social Care
well. Martin still does voluntary work at a care
of the learning process, in which an emphasis
Act (Wmo); an hour and a half help each week
institution and a cultural centre, he visits mu-
was placed on the creation of a learning
with the housekeeping. But after six months,
seums, takes photos, is in a photography club,
organisation; RadarPersoneel supplies extra
Martin called a stop to the help. The element
and visits friends. Things are still not easy, but
social care professionals when necessary.
of specialist help, which he was so attached to,
Martin says: “I cope and am quite proud of
was no longer there. The help received through
what I have achieved.”
the Social Care Act only covered the cleaning of his home, and this was done every time by
*Martin’s and Tom’s names have been changed
strangers. “It didn’t work like that,” thought
by request for privacy reasons. Their real names
Martin. “I had to let go of it and find out what
are known to the RadarMagazine staff.
does work.” Since early in 2016, Martin has
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After the pilot phase of the neighbourhood
‘THE NETHERLANDS IS NOT YOUR COUNTRY’
Omar Ramadan Director of RadarAdvies
On Twitter, it does not matter to @DutchmanDavid that I report to our
Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, segregation is lurking. The booming
EU partners that the ‘new face of alt-right in my country’ is flirting with
economy is driving the prices of private property up enormously. At the
anti-Semitism and decrying feminism. Even when I say that they are
same time, government bodies and corporations have little idea how to
legitimising violence, it causes no protest. What really offends him is
prevent high earners living in subsidised accommodation, and new so-
that I think I belong here and speak of ‘my country’.
cial rented homes are being built because the existing stock is partially
@DutchmanDavid’sanswer: ‘The Netherlands is not your country.’
occupied by people who in the meantime no longer belong to the target
You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs. Public debate may
group. Cities such as Amsterdam should not only be accessible to the
indeed become heated but this is how to gain better insights, providing
rich or the poor. But this is indeed what is happening if we do not build
you are still willing to listen to each other and in fact notice them at all.
for the middle groups and they then lose out to speculators when bid-
We do still need to encounter each other to be able to discuss and solve
ding on a family home. At this point, you then no longer have a mixed
social problems. This is the case with radi-
city, but mostly homogeneous districts
calisation, and also with school drop-out,
where nothing surprising happens. We no
affordable homes and the European Union.
longer tackle each other about the EU. You
You must at least meet with each other to address these issues. If you never meet your
Public debate may indeed become heated.
are either for or against.... and mainly the latter. This means that there is no proper
neighbours in the playground or at a par-
discussion about reforming the Union, in
ents’ evening, it is hard to exchange ideas
any event in the pub or on the way to the
about how to develop children’s education.
polling station. Even in something dull like
The TV news programme Nieuwsuur recently revealed that a Rotterdam
our business climate for multinationals, the risk of losing each other
secondary school was making every effort to keep problem students
still lurks. Because when will Nike’s top man come to explain to us that
away. By using test lessons as entry exams, they keep away children
his European head office is registered in the big city of Hilversum so
who, for example, are dyslexic. Other schools in the neighbourhood
that they can charge a fortune for the royalties on their logo? And what
therefore have a relatively high number of pupils who need extra care.
I mean by that, is not that others may make use of that broad stripe –
It is intriguing how a school that targets “blemish-free” pupils can hold
apparently called a swoosh – on all their sportswear and then have to
a discussion about municipal care structures... and how a school with
pay for it. No, within Nike, one Dutch subsidiary pays huge royalties to
mainly problem pupils can join in the conversation about encourag-
another one! What sort of reality is that? I ask you, should I be paying
ing gifted students. Certainly in the districts of the G4, Amsterdam,
my colleague for the copyright on this joint magazine?
13
RADARITES Four portraits Text: Manon Colson
Photography: Victor Wollaert
Jan Boer (61)
Content “Together with a teaching coach, I, in my role of Teaching
Teaching Manager of Environmental Law at RadarVertige since 2012
Manager, arrange training courses and complete courses of study. This might be for supervisors, for example. How do you approach someone
Study Environmental Law in Deventer and Utrecht
about the fact that he is doing something wrong according to law? The
Lives in Maarssen
coach occupies himself with the conduct indicators; I take care of the
Soap bubbles “When I was still blonde and slim, I had to make my way
content. We shift between these all day: content, legislation and how
on my bike through the soap bubbles to get to school. The Persil factory
to apply it.”
casually discharged its waste water into the Hollandse IJssel, with
Under the radar “I am sometimes called Johnny ‘B’ Blues because I
the expected consequences. That inspired me and caused me to study
organise blues events in my spare time.”
environmental science.”
WATCH THE MOVIE
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Wessel Haanstra (30)
other good projects so we can prevent them having to reinvent the wheel.
Advisor at RadarEurope since 2013
We place the focus on those people with their sleeves rolled up.” Helping “In my student days I did research into adverts that no-one
Study Sociology and Urban Planning at the University of Amsterdam
wanted to see for products no-one wanted to buy. Obviously that wasn’t
Lives in Amsterdam
what I wanted. I wanted to contribute, to help people. RAN is the most
Sleeves rolled up “RAN (Radicalisation Awareness Network) is a network
important project for the European Commission in the prevention of
of front-line workers who have to deal with people who are vulnerable to
radicalisation; within and outside the EU, what we do and say is attract-
radicalisation or are already radicalised. We bring these people together
ing attention.”
so they can spot trends, and also so they can learn about examples of
Under the radar “When I’m not at work, I play bass guitar in a rock band.”
WATCH THE MOVIE
15
WATCH THE MOVIE
Emma Kremer (30)
application with the help of experts and provide new advice. Only then
Second Opinion Coordinator at RadarPersoneel since February 2017
does the municipality make a choice. We try to finalise each application personally; we want to ensure that everyone feels they are listened to.”
Study Psychology in Maastricht and Tilburg
Listening ear “If I see that an application comes within my own area of
Lives in Amsterdam
expertise, I don’t pass it on to a specialist, but I go to Eindhoven myself
Personal “At the moment we are working on a second opinion pilot
for a home visit. I’ve gained a lot of experience in recent years as a
project for the municipality of Eindhoven. When residents submit an
Social Care Act consultant, and I think I’m capable of reassuring people
application in the area of the Social Care Act and Juveniles Act and
and offering a listening ear.”
they receive advice from a generalist in the district team that they
Under the radar “During last year’s Carnival I took part in the parade in
disagree with, they can request a second opinion from us. We assess the
Heerlen, all dressed up as a UFO.”
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Hannie Dekker (51)
Open approach “Help me to help myself: that was the primary question
Senior Advisor at RadarAdvies since 2001
that was put to the MOA, the Achtkarspelen Social Enterprise, when we started to develop the vision. In the case of the MOA, Achtkarspelen
Study Social Sciences at the VU University in Amsterdam
Municipality’s work company for people who do not engage with the
Lives in Groningen
employment market, we opted for a very open approach by letting
Inclusive society “I grew up in Ermelo, a village with many care insti-
people develop their own talents with activities that link to what they
tutions. The people who made use of these belonged to the village, but
want to do. In the meantime I’ve become the guardian of the very
over the years, I noticed that the organisation was looking more to the
philosophy of the MOA.”
outside. I want people to belong again; I’m for an inclusive society.”
Under the radar “In my spare time I teach Pilates.”
WATCH THE MOVIE
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HOW DO YOU COPE WITH POVERTY? Experts take the floor Text: Nina Blanken
Illustrations: Marije Dudink
BOB DE LEVITA Senior Advisor at RadarAdvies
In the r ich countr y we live in, Bob de Levita believes no-one ought to be poor. Pover ty is more than just a lack of income, according to this senior advisor at R adar. It leads to limited social par ticipation and social e xclusion, among other things.
‘Poverty isn’t something we can ban,” says
cook extremely well?” In the municipalities
De Levita. “You give people, who cannot cope
of Den Bosch, Schiedam and Leidschendam-
for whatever reason, a bit of support and
Voorburg, De Levita sees exemplary initiatives
teach them to deal with scarcity. Because
that work: part-time entrepreneurship allows
what do you do if you can’t afford your child’s
people to take back some power, free travel
school trip and you don’t dare to talk to
enlarges the world of people on minimum
anyone about your empty wallet? And what
income, and a citizens’ action team breaks
if you can’t find any work, even though you
through the taboo that is called poverty.
have worked in construction for years, or can
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VINCENT BOERS
FATIMA BOUCHRIT
CHADIA YEMNI
Member of ‘The Art of Getting
Part-time Entrepreneurship
Senior Policy Adv isor
By’ action team
C o o r d i n a t o r, D e n B o s c h
Schiedam Municipality
Municipality
“Whether you have three thousand or six
If you live on social security, are hav-
If you have to get by on a low income, public
hundred euros a month to spend, everyone can
ing difficulty finding a job, and full-time
transport quickly becomes too expensive.
join in the discussion about the art of getting
entrepreneurship is a step too far, then an
Want to take the tram to see your elderly
by,” says Vincent Boers.
intermediate route is a good thing. Den Bosch
father? Or go shopping at a discount super
Boers is the co-initiator of the citizens’ power
Municipality offers people the chance to start
market a couple of districts away? If you’re
project ‘The Art of Getting By’ in Leidschendam-
work as a part-time entrepreneur, while also
on a small budget that’s just not possible...
-Voorburg. A project through which the
retaining their supplementary benefit. Fatima
Unless you live in Schiedam. Since 2015,
municipality wants to uncover hidden poverty,
Bouchrit explains that part-time entrepre-
people In Schiedam on a low income can
break through the taboo around poverty, and
neurship is an addition to the reintegration
travel free on the RET. The arrangement
help those on minimum income by offering
provision.
applies to all adults with an income up to
local solutions. Boers’ action team is a mixed
The arrangement offers people who live on so-
110 per cent of the applicable social security
company and each team member knows what
cial security the chance to gain extra income.
norm, and any of their children who are living
it is to get by on very little. The team tries to
Bouchrit, who works as a coordinator for Den
at home. “Since it was introduced, people
keep the discussion going through the use of
Bosch Municipality’s work and development
make almost three times as much use of the
small initiatives. During Money Week, the team
company, sees those people who start as part-
RET,” reports Chadia Yemni, Senior Policy
stood with posters in the library and community
time entrepreneurs regain hope: “If someone
Advisor at Schiedam Municipality.
centre. A couple reacted to the poster with
comes to us with a plan, for example for a
Research undertaken by Radar has shown that
the words: ‘Poverty is...’. They were concerned
catering company, then we look together at
being able to freely travel removes obstacles.
about their neighbour, a young woman with two
what the chances and opportunities are. Such
Children can go to a school further away,
children. Their gas and electricity had been cut
a person can start small, at home, for a few
volunteer carers can visit their sick parent,
off and they seldom came outside. The couple
hours a week. We provide guidance, space and
and eight per cent of those surveyed said they
wanted to help the woman, but did not know
trust; the entrepreneur can start moving and
had found a job thanks to the arrangement.
how. “Such a conversation,” says Boers, “shows
expand their network.”
Whether it is a causative connection or not,
that it doesn’t matter whether you are rich or
people are happy with it and benefit from it.
poor. You get by together.”
And that is the most important thing.”
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CLEAR FIELD FOR THE ENTREPRENEURS’ CHAMBER Text: Manon Colson
Photography: Bob van der Vlist
The Young Professionals of RadarAdvies wanted to make the world a prettier place. And rather quickly! Together they form the ‘Entrepreneurs’ Chamber’, a breeding ground for product development and knowledge sharing. We spoke briefly to some of them: a discussion about pride, Johan Cruijff and vulnerable citizens.
MICHIEL VAN HAREN NOMAN (31) Wo r k Te a m Ad v i s o r At Radar since: August 2015 What I do: “I try to get organisations in the social domain to work better. I do this by giving advice about how an organisation can achieve its stated goals based on a broadly-supported vision, with an eye to the structure, people, tools and product.” In my spare time: “I like having adventures, preferably on a sailing boat or during a road trip.” My example: “Winston Churchill, because leadership starts with authenticity and your freedom is worth fighting for. Freddy Mercury, because he’s Freddy Mercury, and Johan Cruijff because you can better be a casualty with your own vision than with that of someone else.” When I grow up: “I want a dog.”
DAVID SONDORP (28) Wo r k Te a m Ad v i s o r At Radar since: March 2017 What I do: “Work and poverty issues in every sense. From exploration in the form of developing new innovative poverty policy, to rock-hard data analysis in the form of policy research, advice about the organisational set-up and expertise development in areas such as education policy and part-time entrepreneurship while on social security. In fact, I’m permanently on the lookout for what works and I think this is more about the person than the system.” In my spare time: “I take part in theatre competition and I do a lot of sport. It sounds crazy, but what I enjoy a great deal are the cycle rides between all the activities – a time for peaceful cogitation and thinking up ideas.” My example: “The entrepreneurial social security claimant, the status holder who knows about taking things on, and the handicapped person who sees no obstacles.” When I grow up: “I hope that the life of vulnerable citizens is somewhat better, and that I have contributed to it.”
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JORDY KRASENBERG (29) S o c i e t y Te a m Ad v i s o r Bij Radar sinds: At Radar since: March 2017 What I do: “I am completing my traineeship, though it sometimes feels like a station that’s already behind me due to the various activities I carry out surrounding radicalisation and other topics. In any event I’m proud of what I do and the route I’ve taken.” In my spare time: “In fact I do lots of things, but as well as social activities with family and friends, yoga, reading, cooking and travel are very important to me.” My example: “I don’t have anyone famous as examples, I don’t know them and they frequently disappoint. My grandfather was always my hero, and also my father, despite the fact that we differ in many areas. To be honest, many people who are dear to me are personal heroes. They all have qualities and characteristics that I admire.” When I grow up: “Will it still rain just as much?”
MEREL VAN KESSEL (27) S o c i e t y Te a m Ad v i s o r At Radar since: March 2017 What I do: “I am completing my traineeship, though it sometimes feels like a station that’s already behind me due to the various activities I carry out surrounding radicalisation and other topics. In any event I’m proud of what I do and the route I’ve taken.” In my spare time: “In fact I do lots of things, but as well as social activities with family and friends, yoga, reading, cooking and travel are very important to me.” My example: “I don’t have anyone famous as examples, I don’t know them and they frequently disappoint. My grandfather was always my hero, and also my father, despite the fact that we differ in many areas. To be honest, many people who are dear to me are personal heroes. They all have qualities and characteristics that I admire.” When I grow up: “Will it still rain just as much?”
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EVERY CHILD DESERVES A VEILIG THUIS (SAFE HOME) Interview Annemar ie was happiest at a fr iend’s place, where the family sat companionably round the table, where the mother was always at home and where you were seen and heard. This was in the eighties, somewhere in a village in Fr iesland. If you meet Annemar ie today, you see a happy, strong woman. If you ask how things are going, the bar r ier comes down. “It’s a kind of emptiness,” she says, “something I always missed as a child, a feeling of secur ity, love and appreciation.” Text: Nina Blanken
Photography: Geisje van der Linden
Annemarie de Vries studied sociology and social work and has been
with clients’ emotions. You need to be registered with the Youth
seconded by RadarPersoneel Care & Welfare to Veilig Thuis Hollands
Quality Register Foundation (SKJ) and have a great deal of basic
Midden in Leiden. In the morning in Haarlem-Noord, she is awakened by
knowledge, such as knowledge of domestic violence and child abuse,
the barking of Guus, her nine-month-old adolescent dachshund. If she
and also judicial knowledge about legal tasks, authority and data
feels bad, Guus makes her laugh. He takes her outside and leads her to
interchange. “We ask a lot of our staff,” says Eus Zegers, Manager of
the flower stall and the field where she has a chat. Thanks to Guus, she
Veilig Thuis Hollands Midden, “but we don’t expect them to master
feels at home in the town where she has now lived for three years. For her
everything perfectly from day one. We work with multidisciplinary
work as an investigator at Veilig Thuis, Annemarie makes little use of her
teams and everyone starts under the supervision of an experienced
own experiences. Yes, she does have feelers for emotional neglect and
colleague.” As an example, Zegers mentions Sarah de Vos, seconded
domestic violence, and yes, sometimes, to win trust, she says that she is
by RadarPersoneel just like Annemarie. Sarah is 27 and graduated as
also a person, with a past and a cross to bear; that she was also a child.
a clinical neuropsychologist in 2015. Looking at her CV, you would
But “in this work you can’t let yourself be misled.” Not by the brutal terms
not immediately say she is the perfect fit for Veilig Thuis. But because
in a report, not by the exemplary behaviour of a parent, and not by your
Zegers has already worked together with RadarPersoneel for a longer
own feelings.
period, he trusts that RadarPersoneel knows what Veilig Thuis needs. Sarah proved to be perfect for the work. When she came to work at
The right competencies
Veilig Thuis in 2017, she did a basic Youth Care Professional training
If you want to do the work Annemarie does, you must possess many skills.
course via RadarPersoneel, gained her SKJ registration, and as of 1
For the work, you collect relevant information by asking questions and
January 2018 has a permanent job at Veilig Thuis.
separating facts from opinions. You make connections, write reports and list factors that affect the development of problems. You are confronted
A second home in Uganda
with crisis situations almost every day where you have to correctly deal
“My work is in Leiden, my home in Amsterdam, and once a month I’m
24
annemarie de gries with her dachshund guus
25
in Lochem when I visit my parents’,” reports Sarah from her flat where
have the feeling you’re understood.” Their work can be extremely
there are souvenirs from her many travels on the windowsills: stones
taxing, such as the case of that Sarah is working on involving a mother
and shells from Jordan, South America and Central Africa. “My second
who was kicked out. The parents are divorced and since the divorce the
home is in Uganda.” When Sarah was five month sold, she and her
children live with their father and all contact with the mother has been
parents left for Africa.
severed. The children perceive their father as the best thing that has
Her father worked for Médecins Sans Frontières in a Ugandan hospital.
happened to them and their mother as the worst. By nature, children
Five years later the family, which by then included four children, went
are loyal to both parents, but in a divorce, they might choose to side
back to the Netherlands. Sarah not only had a new biological brother,
with one parent to prevent a conflict of loyalty. In the case Sarah is
but one who had been looked after by nuns after being abandoned, and
working on, the children’s choice was fuelled by the father; he struck
a sister who was handed over to the hospital as a critically-ill baby. “My
them. Finally, one child ran away to their mother. But when Sarah and
parents raised us all the same and gave us the space we needed,” says
a colleague go on a home visit to the father, everything seems normal.
Sarah. “They did it very well, because I see and feel absolutely no differ-
The father and the two remaining children say that nothing is the mat-
ence between my biological brother and my adopted brother and sister.”
ter: “Yes, they sometimes get hit, but surely all fathers do that?”
What Sarah and Annemarie have in common is their interest in other
What should you then do as a concerned investigator? You always
cultures and the working of the brain. When they go on a home visit,
discuss it with colleagues and other involved bodies, such as the school
they show respect by turning up ‘decently’ dressed and by thinking
and GP. You are there for the child and you try to stabilise the unsafe
out loud. They ask if they should take their shoes off, and also why
nurture system and make it safer. In this, you hope that the parents
someone flinches or what makes them angry. “If such questions remain
seek and accept social care voluntarily. If this fails, one of the things
hanging in the air, you can’t do anything,” says Sarah. “You must both
you can do is to call in the Child Protection Board.
At
26
home with sarah de vos
sarah de vos
27
at home with annemarie de vries
28
Just knock
Educational impotence
A case may also turn out differently from what you expect. Like that
Through her sociologist’s eyes, Annemarie sees that social norms of
time Annemarie visited a Greek family with work supervisor Tinka.
acceptability are changing. What is a good upbringing, what can the
Tinka Kreuze inducts new workers and prepares cases with them. This
government get involved in, when are parents educationally impotent
was also the case here. The Greek father seemed to be intimidating and
and when are they doing well enough? Behind the front door you see
threatening, an untameable beast, Annemarie imagined. Yet after the
what the issues mean to a family. “These changing norms, the different
visit she said to Tinka: “I wish my father had also been a bit more like
cultures and my own baggage do sometimes make my work complicated,”
this man: so loving, so involved.”
says Annemarie. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Sarah sees the
The neighbours had heard furious rows. But, as the father, mother and
brain as a puzzle. If she visits a mother with bruises, then she also won-
three children said: “With us everything happens at high volume, even
ders what is going on in her young child’s head. A three-year-old child
when we’re discussing or laughing. We’re Greek, we’re temperamental,
who has watched her mother being beaten up calls out: “Mama, don’t
and our doors are always open.” The row the neighbours had heard
open it” whenever the doorbell rings. It’s a worrying, topsy-turvy world,
was one between the father and his fifteen-year-old daughter. Her
Sarah believes: “Every child deserves a safe home with equal opportuni-
boyfriend had split up with her; for two months the father sat at the
ties and shouldn’t have the feeling they have to protect their parents.”
kitchen table at night with his daughter as she was inconsolable.
Most parents who meet the investigators from Veilig Thuis really do their
When she said she and the boy were back together, her father lost it.
best, Annemarie is sure of that. “But sometimes,” she says, “for various
“You don’t want me to be happy,” she screamed, and: “I’m going to call
reasons or causes, parents can’t provide what their children need.”
the police.” Her brothers and mother got involved. It was as if a bomb
Guus the dachshund is sitting under the table, he whines, and Annemarie
had gone off. Sometimes it seems to the neighbours that something is
says: “My parents aren’t bad people either, they just didn’t know any bet-
terribly wrong. Determining what you should do can be very difficult,
ter. If there had been a Veilig Thuis then, we as a family would certainly
Annemarie explains. Should you shut your eyes, call the police, or just
have got help.”
knock and say: “Is everything OK? I’m concerned.”
29
FROM THORLEIF TO HABIBA Inspiration and innovation to prevent radicalisation
Ra d ica l isa tio n is one of today’s major proble ms. There is no s tra ig ht f or ward solut ion, but t he re are p eo p l e a l l over Euro pe wor king to preve nt it and f ight a ga ins t it. The Ra dicalisat ion Aware ne ss Net wor k ( RAN ) b r ing s t hese front -line s taf f, wit h all t he ir k nowl ed ge a nd e xp er ie nce , toget he r. Who are t hey, w ha t d o t hey d o , a n d how do t hey pe rce ive RAN? We intro d uce seve n of t he m. Text: Nina Blanken
Photography: Joke Schut
We start with Thorleif Link, a policeman in the
share their knowledge and practical experi-
Danish city of Aarhus. One day in 2012,
ence and jointly consider each other’s work.
a report came in to the police station where
In total, there are nine working parties: they
he was working at the time: somebody’s son
focus on education, reintegrating returnees
had gone missing. It was a teenager who
into society, prison and rehabilitation, and
attends the local school and lives in a large
the involvement of young people, families and
Islamic neighbourhood just outside the city.
communities in the prevention of radicali-
Link and his colleagues discover that the boy
sation. As well as plenary meetings that are
has gone to Syria. In 2017, Link is a member of
organised all over Europe, each working party
RAN, but when the boy in Aarhus was reported
holds its own meetings. RadarEurope has set
missing, global terrorism was still completely
up the RAN Centre of Excellent (CoE) by order
new to the Danish policeman.
of the European Commission. The centre of excellence arranges not only the interchange
European network
between front-line staff, but also makes policy
RAN (founded in 2012) allows Officer Link to
recommendations, supports member states
make contact with front-line staff from all
and nurtures research into radicalisation.
over Europe such as police officers and prison wardens and also, for example, teachers, youth
Things happen on the street
workers, representatives of local authorities
Thorleif Link and the six other interview-
and social workers. They all work with people
ees are happy with RAN. Radicalisation is a
who have become radicalised or are vulnerable
complex problems for which there is no simple
to radicalisation. In RAN working groups they
solution. It is a problem that does not stop
30
Thorleif Link
Veszna Wessenauer Jessika Soors
Hannah Abdule
when it reaches national borders, but must
going to Syria –28 out of its 42,000 inhabitants
come across jihadists very often in Hungary.
indeed also be addressed at a local level. It is
went there. Since the summer of 2014 no-one
According to Wessenauer, Hungary’s problem
often a problem in which few people in your
else has gone to Syria, and this is within the
is the right-wing extremism of paramilitary
own region are specialised.
context of an international peak in numbers in
groups: “But if you point this out to the
During the RAN meetings, the front-line
2015. However, this does not mean that all the
government, you’re seen as hostile opposition,
staff meet people of the same mind and hear
tension has disappeared from Vilvoorde itself.
so we stopped doing it.” With her colleagues
how radicalisation, returnees and social
In Vilvoorde, the policy is aimed at prevention
at Political Capital, a research and consultancy
reintegration are dealt with elsewhere in
institute, she conducts research into young
Europe. A police officer meets not only other
people and political participation, education,
police, but also teachers, social workers and communication experts. According to Jessika Soors from Flanders, this last aspect, the bringing together of different authorities and the possibility for them to work together, is extremely important in the prevention of
and human rights, among other things. Enthu-
It is a problem that does not stop when it reaches national borders, but must indeed also be addressed at a local level
siastically, she tells of the various educational projects she is working on. Using toolkits, they offer teachers and other interested parties a way of conducting rational discussions with right-wing extremists. Because how do you re-
and fight against radicalisation. The other in-
act if someone says: “All Gypsies are criminals,
terviewees all agree with Soors. They believe
it’s in their blood”? Via RAN, Wessenauer not
that a multi-agency structure is simply part of
and raising awareness, at strengthening family
only shares her knowledge about education and
RAN’s DNA. The various authorities must know
structures and supervising returnees. “I am
communication, but also, for example, works
each other and understand who has what role
convinced,” says Soors, “that we can make a
with a German ‘colleague’ to investigate the
and tasks.
difference at local level with practical people.
similarities between jihadism and right-wing
Jessika Soors is head of the deradicalisation
Things don’t happen sitting around a policy
extremism.
department in the Belgian town of Vilvoorde,
table, but on the street.”
and vice chair of one of RAN’s working parties.
The youngest of the seven interviewees is
When she started in her job as head of the
Education
Hannah Abdule. In her daily work as communi-
deradicalisation department, Vilvoorde was
You could call the Hungarian Veszna Wes-
cation officer at the Department for Education
one of Belgium’s principal locations for people
senauer the outsider of the group. You do not
(United Kingdom) she does not have to deal
31
directly with radicalisation and deradicalisa-
“I think that what RAN does is fantastic,”
tion. Nonetheless she is a Young Ambassador
Abdule says, “it gives young people like me a
for RAN. Before Abdule worked at the DfE, she
voice and invests in them. I hear what problems
taught religious education. She noticed then
other countries are struggling with and how we
that many pupils did not participate in discus-
in the United Kingdom can learn from this. RAN
sions on taboo subjects, such as polarisation
is a united front that combines the efforts of
and radicalisation, either because they did not
European countries.”
know what they ought to think, or because they had extreme views on the matter. Most pupils,
The Aarhus model
Abdule discovered, have no idea how their own
If you ask the seven interviewees how they
opinions come into existence. In order to teach
deal with radicalisation, returnees and social
them how to make a good, informed appraisal,
reintegration, certain concepts keep being
the RE teacher gave lessons in how to speak
repeated: prevention, offering an alterna-
your mind.
tive, giving people the feeling of belonging,
During the lessons, pupils discussed topics
strengthening family bonds, education,
such as ‘violence must be permitted in some
guidance and trust. These are terms that
cases’ and ‘in Britain, everyone must speak
lean more towards a soft rather than a hard
English’. The good thing about this, Abdule
approach to the problem.
Habiba Ali
considers, it that children enjoy disagreeing with someone. Nothing remains undisputed.
In 2012, the year in which the son disap-
Abdule left teaching in order to be able to
peared from Aarhus, most European countries
further contribute to fighting radicalisation in
were still reacting to the problem by adopting
a more effective way. She found that it was dif-
a hard line. Passports were confiscated,
ficult to do this as a teacher. She had to build
mosques closed, and if a jihadist returned, he
up a bond of trust with her pupils if she wanted
could not expect a warm welcome. The Danish
their help in the deradicalisation of a fellow
town of Aarhus opted for a softer approach.
pupil, but that trust would disappear as soon
As well as repression, the Danish police were
as she pointed out a pupil who was becoming
quick to invest in social reintegration: Danish citizens who had been to Syria, certainly mothers and children, were offered help in looking for a home, returning to school and
‘RAN gives young people like me a voice and invests in them.’
Onni Sarvela
finding work. The Danish police’s approach became known as the ‘Aarhus model’. If you react in a hard line manner to young, radicalised Muslims, then they will only become angrier and more dangerous, Link and his
radicalised. “I come from a Muslim community
colleagues said. Helping them is the only way
where I have seen families suffering because
to keep an eye on them and to keep the peace
their children have become radicalised,”
in the city.
Abdule states. “What I also see is how strongly right-wing extremism affects the media, the
When Habiba met Thorleif
White House, and people on the street.” There
One of the other interviewees, Habiba Ali
are streets where she, as a Muslim, would rath-
from Finland, reacts enthusiastically when
er not go: ‘It’s scary to feel scared of where you
she hears that we have also spoken to Thorleif
live.’ Governments, Abdule considers, should
Link for this report. Ali first met the Danish
do more research into right-wing extremism.
policeman at a plenary RAN meeting and
According to this young Englishwoman, they
thought then that we all need to hear more
need to find a balance to solve radicalisation
from this person. She admired his open and
without targeting certain groups specifically.
respectful attitude to people different from
32
Carina Rennermalm
4642
Set up in
261
2012
RAN working groups
participants until now
Onni Sarvela & Habiba Ali
Events
Communication & Narratives
Carina Rennermalm
Education
130 113 188
EXIT 52
Thorleif Link 153 Jessika Soors Hannah Abdule
77
Youth, Families & Communities
53 37
Local authorities
445
68
530 312 393 234
251
58
Participants non-EU countries
Prison & Probation
Veszna Wessenauer 65
301
Participants working for EU organizations
116
23
65
67
53
Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism
57
198
90
Police & Law Enforcement
105
241 91
Health & Social Care 29
32
Steering Committees
him. As a policeman, this was the attitude he
Link prevented him from actually leaving.
and he accepted Link’s offer to come and talk.
adopted to win the trust of the Somali com-
Jamal lived in a house with other radicalised
Jamal gained a mentor, learned to rediscover
munity in Aarhus, something no police officer
Muslims and was preparing for his departure.
his city all over again, and after two years
had then achieved. Even in Denmark, Link’s
When he was almost ready to go, he received a
said: “I am a Dane.”
approach may be called soft, but for him,
phone call from Link. Jamal cursed the agent
as he says himself, it works. As an example,
and wanted to hang up, but Link did some-
Link mentions Jamal’s story1. A young man
thing Jamal had not expected: he apologised
who, just like the youth we discussed at the
and offered help. The fact that a policeman
start of this report, wanted to travel to Syria.
accepted his responsibility won Jamal over,
33
1 When the journalist asked Thorleif Link for an example, he suggested an American podcast: ‘How a Danish Town Helped Young Muslims Turn Away from ISIS’. This is a great listen for anyone interested in the long version of the story of the young man who left, the Aarhus model and Jamal, the man who stayed.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO Do you recognise this woman? Actually, you have seen her in this magazine... That’ right, she’s on the cover! Seen from behind, sitting on a bench in the shopping centre in the Utrecht district of Overvecht. At the fish stall to be exact, as you can read in the story about the Neighbourhood Team (page 8), where everyone meets each other, and where help is offered and asked for, or day-to-day worries are discussed. Why are we showing this lady’s face? Because this is what Radar does. We see people as they are. We want to help, inspire and educate them, to bring people together, and at the same time learn from them in our turn. We want to have an impact on them, just as they affect us with their issues and problems. We have been doing this since 1 December 1990, the day on which the Radar Foundation changed into a limited company and the philosophy of the founders, Thomas Hofmans and Gejo Duinkerken, became more focused. We quote from their objective at that time: ‘the initiation and implementation of new policy in workers’ organisations, in both the profit and non-profit sectors.’ This happened through making sure learning processes and communications were up and running. We also got our very first office, on Frederiksplein in Amsterdam. After seven years we were outgrowing our premises and we went on the hunt for new accommodation, ending up in monumental premises on the Veemarkt in Amsterdam. We hope that we can continue to grow in the future, in all kinds of ways so that more people and organisations can obtain a place, literally or figuratively, where they can be the optimum version of themselves. Where they can advance each other. Where together, they can have a greater impact. A place like the bench next to the fish stall in the Overvecht shopping centre for example.
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RADARMAGAZINE #Samenmeerimpact #moreimpacttogether RadarGroep Veemarkt 83 1019 DB Amsterdam 020 463 5050