Intensive civic integration - Municipality of Voorst
Intensive civic integration pays off
Municipality of Voorst
A few years ago, the Municipality of Voorst set up its own civic integration program. Language education is an important part of it.
When an increased influx of status holders began within the Municipality of Voorst in 2016, it quickly became clear that integration had to proceed differently than usual. The Gelderland municipality wanted this target group to integrate and participate in Dutch society more quickly. The idea that newcomers first have to integrate for three years and take lessons and only then could actually get to work did not appeal to the municipality. 'As a municipality, we wanted to give people a place in society much faster. By immediately looking for a paid or unpaid workplace for them and having them train intensively at the same time, we as a municipality expected to achieve results faster.'
The goal is for them to integrate faster and thus be prepared for the labor market sooner
Collaboration
That is why an intensive civic integration project was created; a collaboration between the Municipality of Voorst, TopTaal, Mens & Welzijn, and VluchtelingenWerk. Participants receive three half-day sessions of civic integration lessons from TopTaal and one half-day session of 'civic integration-plus' from VluchtelingenWerk. In addition, these newcomers participate in the local community for a maximum of four half-day sessions per week. This could be a language internship or volunteer work, for example. The goal is for them to integrate faster and thus be prepared for the labor market sooner.
Students are enthusiastic
TopTaal's role in the program is to provide language education. In August, it started with 29 participants and three different groups. Jan explains: 'We really have to fight to motivate people. We want them to come and integrate with us, but we cannot force them. It is their free choice. When they do, they are required to do a maximum of four half-day sessions of volunteer work per week in addition to the 7.5 hours of language lessons, depending on their capacity. Of course, they are also allowed to perform paid work! This means they are active for a maximum of eight half-day sessions.'
What do most participants in the Municipality of Voorst start with? Literacy. Jan is resolute: 'The group that chooses us does not consist of highly educated people. This target group needs a lot of time to integrate. I see that students are very enthusiastic about the courses.' The first year went to the municipality's satisfaction; the second year has now started. 'We are very happy to have our own civic integration program close to home. It means that, for example, mothers who care for children do not have to travel too much. Apeldoorn and Deventer are far away if you have small children.'
Because Jan has experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to get a place in the workforce, he was a major driver of this program within the Municipality of Voorst. 'I have a visual impairment myself and had to fight quite hard to get a job 36 years ago. So I am very committed to making it easier for newcomers now. When a piece of coordination was needed for this program, I was happy to take it on. I can see now that it works!'