RadarMagazine | English version

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

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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

20

Entrepreneurs’ Chamber

30

6

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

3

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!

5

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

6

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

8

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

9

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

12

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

14

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.”

16

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

17

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

18

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.”

19

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.”

22

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?”

23

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.

34

RADARMAGAZINE #Samenmeerimpact #moreimpacttogether RadarGroep Veemarkt 83 1019 DB Amsterdam 020 463 5050