STogether we build a bridge between people who have something to offer and people who can be helped.
Both Vonk and Stichting Present Den Helder and Texel are proud of their collaboration. They have formalized this partnership by signing a cooperation agreement. The collaboration focuses on context-rich and meaningful education.
For the past two years, Vonk's welfare department has been collaborating with Stichting Present Den Helder and Texel through project-based learning. Students in the social care and social work programs receive project-based learning, focusing on gaining practical experience. During the first year, groups of students visit various target groups one day a week, whether within an organization, institution, assisted living facility, or independent living. For approximately four weeks, each group visits a different target group to gain experience through discussions, activities, and support tasks. After these weeks, the groups rotate, allowing students to become acquainted with a wide variety of target groups. Supervisors from Vonk and Stichting Present travel to all students during the project day and maintain close contact with the locations. This approach allows students to gain optimal knowledge of the various target groups and receive a broad education. We find that this broad orientation enables students to make better choices about their career path.
The locations the students visited over the past two years are very diverse. Examples include elderly care, disability care, refugee work, women's shelters, homeless shelters, mental health services, individual projects, special education, and home-based projects. A guest lecture is offered at each organization. In addition, guest lectures are given at schools by various organizations and experienced professionals. Resilience training sessions and tours of Amsterdam are also organized.
Students and parents/guardians find this format very valuable because of the professional and personal development students experience. Students indicate that they get a glimpse behind the scenes of various organizations and target groups. This allows them to make a well-informed decision about where to do an internship in their second year. Students report being able to immediately connect theory with practice.
Through this collaboration, we involve students in community engagement in the region and encourage them to contribute to their fellow human beings. This is very important to the Present Den Helder Foundation on Texel. We want to build a bridge between people who have something to offer and people who can be helped.
Present Den Helder & Texel Foundation
Builds a bridge between people who want to give and people who want to receive.
The goal is for everyone to find it normal to look after each other again!
Visit stichtingpresent.nl/denhelder to find out how and/or where you can make a difference for others.
Spark
Vonk provides vocational training (VMBO, MBO, and company training) from 12 locations in North Holland, making it the leading vocational training provider in the region. More information can be found at www.vonknh.nl .
