Herstelling International

Herstelling Foundation’s approach to unemployment is rather unique in Holland, but at the same time applicable to other countries:

• other countries have unique cultural heritage sites, that need maintenance and repair.
• other countries have groups of young people for whom it is difficult to get or hold down a job.
• other countries, especially within the European Union, have a comparable set of rules governing unemployment.

International partners

In 2001 an international agreement was signed by four parties.

‘Arbeit und Lernen Hamburg’ (ALH), Projekt Vestvolden in Denmark, Fort 8 in Antwerp in Belgium and Herstelling Foundation undertook to create a platform for co-operation and information exchange.

Outside the EU

In 2005 Herstelling Foundation has successfully played a part in the restauration of the Nola Hatterman Institute, an important art education institute in Paramaribo, Surinam.

The cities of Amsterdam and Paramaribo have since then greatly strengthened their relationship. Civil servants from Amsterdam’s Department of Work and Income and Herstelling are intensively working together with their colleagues in Surinam in developing skills in management and craftsmanship. Our efforts are focussed on the SAO Foundation (Labour mobilisation and Development). This is a foundation not unlike Herstelling.

In 2008 this lead to the Surinamese president’s wife opening a new medical bureau built by a commercial contractor in combination with unemployed youths. Seeing the results has strengthened our resolve to intensify co-operation with SAO and Surinam authorities and entrepreneurs.