The Network is funded by Maastricht University, but this does absolutely not mean that its focus is mainly on higher-educated people with a refugee background. VISTA College offers a Dutch language course to prepare refugees for the integration exams. These are people with completely diverse learning backgrounds: from illiterate to students with intermediate learning backgrounds. Robert Doyen, training manager TAAL+ at VISTA: "Most people have no idea what it means to teach illiterates. That requires a huge amount of understanding and patience from our teachers. And keep in mind that more and more people will come to the Netherlands with little or no education. As wars last longer, young people increasingly less education before they arrive here." NOVO College, the international transition class, also notices that the children they teach have received less and less education. Frances Geene, coordinator of NOVO: "We provide education to children aged between 12 and 18. We notice that these children have often been on the road for a very long time and sometimes haven't been to school for several years. This is a worrying situation. We also have a severe shortage of teachers and rooms. Fortunately, the other Network members think along and we can sometimes come to solutions."

Praktech offers a practical training programme to teach basic technical skills, such as carpentry, bricklaying, plastering, painting and tiling. Sylvia Houben, team leader at Praktech, says: "Praktech focuses on (young) adult status holders who benefit from practical training that fits in with the mandatory civic integration. By teaching and improving the necessary competences in the field of construction, we train course participants in order to increase their chances of a sustainable place in the labour market. In doing so, it is very important not to lose sight of possible problems in other areas of life. Based on our extensive experience with dual pathways, together with VISTA College, we are convinced that cooperation in the chain is successful!"

There is also the Wereldwijd Foundation, a course centre for asylum seekers dedicated to helping status holders, refugees and asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies and return to their own country. Mirjam Kemp, director of Stichting Wereldwijd: "Students receive Dutch lessons and training in all kinds of fields, ranging from electrical engineering to sewing skills and from computer knowledge to welding. Asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies and are returning to their home countries are given help to support themselves there. Tools and implements are collected and placed in a large crate. That crate goes with them and forms the basis for a fresh start in their own country. Over the years, more than 600 crates have been moved to 55 countries."

Refugees with a higher education background take their civic integration course at Maastricht University's Language Centre and, if they prove competent, can move on to the pre-bachelor's programme offered by Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and the UM Language Centre. This pre-bachelor is also the result of close cooperation within the Network.

In our primary school, De Poort in Maastricht, we offer First Reception education to asylum seekers, but we also have Language Classes. In the Language Classes, children aged 7 to 12 who speak little or no Dutch receive specialised language education. We invest a lot in vocabulary, speaking, reading and writing. For us, the Network is important because it puts us in close contact with other educational institutions for refugees. We can thus even play a role in individual cases.  

- Lineke de Kruijf
Director of primary school De Poort

But it is not only professionals who offer support to refugees. Many volunteers do their bit, including UM students. The partly UM-funded Refugee Project Maastricht (RPM), part of student chaplaincy The InnBetween, has more than 120 volunteers who meet the needs of over 1,500 participants every month. RPM connects refugees, (international) students and local residents. Nathalie Ummels, coordinator of RPM: "We offer a variety of activities, such as language sessions, a buddy programme, cultural days, a baking club, guitar lessons, various children's activities, as well as a community centre where anyone can drop in. Everyone learns from each other and everyone feels heard and seen at RPM."

Professional reception

Of course, all organisations that receive refugees professionally are also part of the Network. They are crucial for achieving results and, where possible, removing obstacles refugees face when coming to Limburg. For example, the Municipality of Maastricht keeps all members accurately informed of new developments in legislation or municipal policy. COA listens very carefully to the situation within the other Network organisations and tries to meet their needs as much as possible. NIDOS, the foundation that receives unaccompanied minor refugees, keeps in close contact within the Network with the educational organisations and signals when difficult situations in the field of education threaten to arise."

What I bring to the Network is to give COA a face. Creating clarity where necessary about the work, processes and activities carried out within an asylum seekers' centre and COA. What I get from the Network is insight into the diversity of training on offer for 'our' target group. In both bringing and taking, I focus on connecting with the cooperation partners within the city of Maastricht.  

- Monique Maes
Site manager Asylum Seekers’ Centre Maastricht

By: Margot Krijnen