HEILIGE BOONTJES
ROASTING COFFEE FOR A SECOND CHANCE When Rotterdam-based business partners Rodney van den Hengel and Marco den Dunnen hit on the idea to start a coffee roastery, they stumbled onto an untapped market. Now, several years later, Heilige Boontjes (‘Holy Beans’) is paving the way to give young people who are at a disadvantage on the job market a second chance.
It was in the course of their careers in the police force and
we can work with that person and what it will take. Not
reintegration coaching that the pair were struck by how
everyone is a good fit, and we’re honest about that.’ After
few training opportunities exist to help young people
an initial three-month period, they draw up a diagnosis
from troubled backgrounds find work. ‘We wanted to make
and action plan for each hire. As well as offering internal
coffee as an artisanal product available to a wider target
training programmes for young people, the coffee roaster
group’, explains Rodney. ‘We also felt it was important to
also runs a partnership with Albeda College to offer work
offer these youngsters a place where they can grow and
placements. ‘We want to be a model for other employers. It
aren’t dogged by problems from their past. For them, it’s
takes time, energy and a healthy show of anger from time
fun to interact with customers, work with quality products
to time, but you’re making the city a better place.’
INCLUSIVE COFFEE ROASTER
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M A G A Z I N E
ACTIVE CITIZENS Rodney and Marco’s coffee roastery has built a platform
Regardless of background, ethnicity or sex, at Heilige
for a brighter future. Over the past six years, they’ve grown
Boontjes everyone gets the same treatment and pay
from one pop-up shop to two locations plus a webshop
cheque. Young hires arrive via various routes – through
dedicated to lending a helping hand to more than 120
the city’s youth desk, employer service point, the police,
young people. ‘People have no idea how much impact
probation service, or by applying on the website. ‘We train
they’re making by buying our coffee. Our hires re-engage
around 25 youngsters a year. Our expertise is on the streets
with society as active citizens.’ In the future, the two hope
and in employment. The first thing we look at is whether
to roll out their concept to more cities in the Netherlands.
TEXT Céline Boute
and make progress.’
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