Collaboration with all parties is running smoothly

Vluchtelingenwerk, Ferm Werk, and Blik op Talent are just three of the parties helping to ensure that people with a migration background can integrate into the Netherlands. TopTaal is now also closely involved with this target group. While Vluchtelingenwerk focuses on the reception and introduction of status holders in Woerden and the surrounding area, Ferm Werk is responsible for municipal tasks in the areas of participation, work, and income. Blik op Talent and TopTaal work together intensively, not only in Woerden but also at other locations, to further promote the development of status holders.

Hanneke Steijn, policy advisor within the municipality of Woerden, sees that much has been achieved in four years

Hanneke also finds it remarkable that a municipality managed to realize such intensive cooperation with various partners within a relatively short period of time. The lines of communication are short and the representatives find each other easily, which certainly benefits the service delivery. Hanneke explains: 'The collaboration between us as a municipality and the other parties is running smoothly. If you ask me specifically about the way TopTaal operates as a whole, I can only be positive. The colleagues at TopTaal are progressive; they think things through and have an active attitude. They are also candid about what is going well and the areas where they feel further improvement is needed.'

Serious partner

What Hanneke sometimes encounters is that the policy regarding the recruitment of students in the Netherlands is diffuse. 'Every municipality works differently. But if a Syrian participant has started a course with us and then no longer feels like it, they stop. This is also because some language providers promise attractive gifts. Then there is a high chance that he or she will enroll elsewhere. As a municipality, we are affected by this because we try to organize our affairs as well as possible. Such practices do not help in that regard.'

According to Hanneke, TopTaal is a serious partner. The employees of the Amsterdam-based language institute develop many initiatives for participants in Woerden and the surrounding area. 'As a policy advisor, I share that information with schools we work with, among others. That means I need to be well-informed about the backgrounds. What is the goal? When and where does it take place? I often get carried away by my enthusiasm immediately, but if I have more information, I can fulfill my role even better. The status holders in our municipality benefit from that. And ultimately, we as a whole society benefit from it, of course. Because the faster status holders integrate, the happier they feel and the better they function.'

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