The cooperation with all parties is running smoothly

Refugee Action, Ferm Werk, and Blik op Talent are just three of the organizations that help ensure that people with a migration background can integrate into the Netherlands. TopTaal Closely involved with this target group. While Vluchtelingenwerk (Refugee Work) focuses on the reception and introduction of refugees from refugee status in Woerden and the surrounding area, Ferm Werk is responsible for municipal tasks related to participation, employment, and income. Blik op Talent en TopTaal work intensively together 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 agrees that it's remarkable that a municipality managed to achieve such intensive collaboration with various partners in a relatively short time. The lines of communication are short, and the representatives can easily find each other, which certainly benefits the service. Hanneke explains: "The collaboration between us as a municipality and the other parties runs smoothly. If you ask me specifically about the way in which TopTaal operates as a whole, I cannot help but be positive. The colleagues of TopTaal They are progressive, thoughtful, and proactive. They are also open about what's going well and where they believe further improvement is needed.

Serious partner

What Hanneke sometimes encounters is the vagueness of the policy surrounding student recruitment in the Netherlands. 'Every municipality operates differently. But if a Syrian participant has started a course with us and is no longer interested, then...topt he. This is also because some taalOffer providers attractive gifts. Then there's a good chance they'll register elsewhere. This is a problem for us as a municipality, because we try to manage our affairs as efficiently as possible. Such practices don't help.

TopTaal is a serious partner according to Hanneke. The employees of the Amsterdamse taalThe institute develops many initiatives for participants in Woerden and the surrounding area. "As a policy advisor, I share this information with schools we work with, among others. This means I have to be well-informed about the background. What is the purpose? When and where does it take place? I often get enthusiastic right away, but having more information allows me to fulfill my role even better. This benefits the refugees in our municipality. And ultimately, we as a whole society benefit from this. Because the faster refugees integrate, the happier they feel and the better they function."