How do you build a region where all young people have equal opportunities to develop their talent? For New Rootz, this is not a question, but their daily mission. The organisation assists young newcomers and young people with a migration background in their route to education, internship, work and a future full of opportunities.
"We want to offer perspective and open doors in Lifeport Regio Arnhem Nijmegen that would otherwise remain closed," says Janneke van Lier, director of New Rootz.
From learning language to building the future
New Rootz works closely with various educational institutions, including ISKs (International Further Education for Newcomers) in Arnhem, Nijmegen and ROC Nijmegen. This is where young people arrive who have only been in the Netherlands for a short time. For them, the Dutch education system and local opportunities for participation, internships and work are often unknown territory.
Therefore, New Rootz developed a complementary career orientation programme from its MDT Diversity Skills programme. Young people discover what courses, professions and companies there are in the Lifeport region. They organise community activities, learn about their own talents and gain insight into what steps are needed to become a doctor, mechanic or ICT specialist, for example.
"Many young people think they can't do anything yet, but they often bring a lot of life experience, and resilience. We help them turn that into strength," explains Janneke.
Janneke van Lier
Strengthening the role of education
Progress on the labour market starts with educational practice that is even closer to what young people encounter in the field. In practice, courses do not yet always seamlessly connect with what happens in companies, while organisations in turn can make their workplaces more accessible and learnable for young people. According to New Rootz, it is precisely in this joint movement that a lot of profit lies.
"That is where I think there is a huge opportunity. If education, employers and practical teachers experiment together, we can prepare young people much better for their first step outside," says Janneke.
When this cooperation is structurally strengthened, there will be room to better connect education to the labour market and allow young people to make their way out with more confidence.
Orienting by doing
What is unique about New Rootz' programme is that students are not just "sent on their way", but are prepared step by step for a suitable orientation spot. Everything starts with a personal exploration of their strengths, talents and interests. Together with the pupil, New Rootz examines which step outside - an orientation internship at an organisation or an orientation day at a study programme - feels appropriate and feasible. From that starting point, we look for the best possible match.
The MDT programme consists of social do days and orientation days, the latter being carefully prepared. Students receive workshops on communication in the workplace, introducing yourself, presenting and how to move around within an organisation. This warm, accessible guidance makes the step to their first encounter with a company smaller, and the chance of a positive experience greater. It is precisely this approach that makes the difference for young newcomers and vulnerable students, for whom the world of work is still unfamiliar or sometimes exciting.
In Nijmegen, New Rootz works with young people and partners such as the municipality of Nijmegen, Topgroep, Stoftotdoen and the ROC Nijmegen to make social service hours sustainable, the MDT Hub. Together, they are strengthening sustainable relationships with companies and social organisations. This offers new opportunities to also give young newcomers, early school leavers and other vulnerable young people access to suitable places within the regional business community. In this way, New Rootz is not only building today's apprenticeships, but also a system that is future-proof.
The power of encounters
That structural cooperation is the basis for what makes New Rootz so strong in practice: the power of meeting. Because ultimately, real change is not just in systems or agreements, but in bringing people together. New Rootz performs a crucial bridging function between young people and employers. For educational institutions, it is intensive to constantly find new companies, arrange internships and maintain contact. New Rootz helps with this and prepares both young people and organisations so that both sides are ready for a good first acquaintance.
We already have many positive experiences with this approach within our current programmes. At the same time, New Rootz wants to further strengthen this approach by not only preparing students well, but also making companies and organisations better prepared to receive interns and orientation trainees. In doing so, they are building a more inclusive and sustainable practice, supporting both sides and increasing the chances of success for all.
Why the Regional Internship Pact suits New Rootz
The four objectives of the Regional Internship Pact fit in seamlessly with New Rootz' daily practice. Even better: they touch on exactly the themes the organisation has been working on for years.
- Good guidance
For New Rootz, mentoring is not a formality, but an essential part of opportunity equality. Janneke stresses that guidance is often too fragmented or insufficient, both in organisations and in some educational institutions. At the same time, she sees that good guidance makes a huge difference for vulnerable young people, especially during their first steps in an unfamiliar working environment. New Rootz therefore invests in intensive coaching, preparatory workshops and warm guidance.
- Equal opportunities and combating internship discrimination
New Rootz sees up close how often young people are rejected because of their surname, origin or appearance. The Regional Internship Pact explicitly mentions internship discrimination, and this ties in directly with what New Rootz tries to break through on a daily basis: reducing prejudice through encounters and positive experiences. Moreover, New Rootz wants to be an example to others in this with its own organisation. We see diversity as a given. Diversity enriches the organisation with different perspectives and talents.
- Sufficient good and suitable internships and apprenticeships
Through social days, orientation internships and the MDT-Hub, New Rootz builds lasting relationships with organisations that are open to diverse talent. This gives young people access to places that would otherwise remain out of reach.
- Appropriate remuneration without distinction between MBO, HBO and WO students
MBO students in particular work long hours and combine school with work. A fair internship allowance lowers thresholds and recognises their efforts. The ambition of the Internship Pact to equalise fees fits perfectly with the vision of New Rootz.
Also join the Regional Internship Pact
The experiences of New Rootz show how much potential there is in the region, and how important it is that young people are given a fair chance to show it. The Regional Internship Pact offers organisations the chance to contribute to this and to benefit from motivated and diverse talent. The festive launch on 13 April is the perfect moment to get involved. Help build a region where talent is truly seen.
Do you want to contribute to better internships and apprenticeships? Regional Internship Pact Lifeport Region Arnhem Nijmegen - Fill in the form.
The Regional Internship Pact is an initiative of the Human Capital Agreement of The Economic Board Regio Arnhem Nijmegen. It is a regional cooperation in which MBO institutions, employers and regional partners work together to improve internships and apprenticeships. Recently, ROC Nijmegen, Rijn IJssel, ROC A12, Aeres and Yuverta, together with Kennispunt MBO BPV, SBB, VNO-NCW and 32 employers from the region, have joined forces to shape this pact.
