On Wednesday 5thof October the city of Rotterdam organised in the framework of the Cities for Active Inclusion project a seminar with the title “I DON’T HAVE A JOB BUT I’M WORKING ON IT” – Talent development in the Netherlands.
The seminar was opened by Rotterdam vice-mayor Hugo de Jonge. His speech focused on the prevention of dropout and unqualifi ed school leaving. Rotterdam reached an agreement with the school boards in Rotterdam on a common strategy to tackle this: a 4-year programme, called “Attack on Dropout”. 
Vice Mayor Hugo de Jonge
Mirte Kortbeek from EUROCITIES gave an introduction presentation on EUROCITIES and the project Cities for Active Inclusion, and their latest research on youth employment in 9 European cities. The next presentation was about the Youth Counter by Alice Vlaanderen. She has been just the week before to Stockholm and Copenhagen to show the best practice of the Rotterdam Youth Counter, since this is unique in Holland, it’s an integrated approach towards youth. After a short coffee break, there was a presenation on active inclusion of young people with disabilities or health problems, Edwin de Vos, is conducting a reseach for Eurofound, and gave already a preview on our seminar. 
Edwin de Vos
After the lunch, we had two international best practice presentations, first of the city of Copenhagen, about their jobcenter, and afterwards of Hjulsta school in Stockholm which was a movie, and showed how pupils whom almost dropped out of the educational system to keep them inside the system by giving them a more practical project.
Then the group splitted, the youngsters went up to a special room, where they had a skype conference with youth from Birmingham. Since normally the practicers are talking about the youth but never involves them in their debates. It was a nice debate. At the same time the others had an interesting panel debate on entrepreneurship and talent development. 
Panel debate (from left to right): Denise Dehue, Regional manager, Young Enterprise NL; Jens Sibbertsen, Head of Department at Jobcenter Copenhagen; Livia di Nardo, Junior Achievement – Young Enterprise Brussels; Aetzel Griffioen, Rotterdam SkillCity; Hendrik Halbe, executive director of HOPE.
Skype debate with as observer Elisabeth Sörhuus & Aza Lemmer, Desiree Klijn and Laura Keereweer with debate coordinator Arianne van der Meer.
After the panel debate and skype debate there was a short time to refresh with some drinks, the last part was a feedback from the youth about their discussion, they were questioned by Piet Boekhoud, whom was the moderator of the day. After a moving anecdote of Piet Boekhoud how he activated one drugaddict, they day ended with the usual networking moment, some drinks with snacks.
After the event Elisabeth Sörhuus from the Education Department in the city of Stockholm answered to some questions on the topic of talent development.
The seminar had as topic talent development, what do you think should change in the educational system so the talent of the youth can florish better?
I think that we must start very early to encourage and support all kinds of “talent -expressions”. We normally encourage the baby´s small steps of development but at a certain point we stop praising what children can do and what they are good at. In order to build a good self-confidence built on a good self-esteem you must go on promoting what children can do.
In the Swedish curriculum there are goals which stress entrepreneurship, ability to take initiatives and creativity, so we have to consider that when we plan for education for all ages. In order to discover talents there must be lots of opportunities in the schoolday for pupils to show their talents! If you just go on with ordinary lessons, strictly conducted by the teachers, no talent will turn up. But most of all it is a matter of attitude and approach. If you really believe in the idea that everyone has a talent out of the ordinary your way of treating young people will be encouraging enough. They will feel your belief and transform it to support.
Should we involve the youth more in our discussions and how? Is it usefull?
Of course we must involve the youth. All resent research show that if you are involved your motivation increase. You can create focus-groups with young people and ask them about their points of view, you can encourage pupil councils to give pieces of advices or you can make questionnaires directly to youngsters in order to get to know what they really think.
How do you involve youth in Stockholm?
By working with pupil influence in school according to the goals in the curriculum. In Stockholm we have emphasized entrepreneurship as one way of taking care of young talents. It is not only a way of encouraging young people to show and develop their talents – it is also about policy. To be an entrepreneur is e.g. about being curious, creative and taking risks and that you will learn if the atmosphere and surroundings are permitting and encouraging.
What is one the best practices in Stockholm, where other cities can learn from regarding bringing youth from Education to Work?
There is a national program for high school students (16-20 years) where they work with starting a business. The goal is to to experience a business life cycle – starting up, manage and close down a business – during a year. It is supported by teachers and advisors from local businesses. Half of all high schools in Sweden let the students work with their own business projects the last school-year. There are also “Working markets” for young people where you can get help to get a job or to go on with studies.
What have you learned from this day?
I appreciated very much to be part of the conference and my conclusion was that there are so many similarities between us in our different countries and that we can learn much from each other.
To hear another voice (the youth), Aza Lemmer, from the studentassociation AEGEE-Rotterdam answered
some other questions.
What have you learned most out of the discussion with the youth of Birmingham?
What I have learned from the discussion with the youth of Birmingham is the difference between Dutch young people and those from England. I think we Dutch young people have more motivation to go to school in the purpose of reaching our goal. The youth of Birmingham lack the real motivation they just looking for money and forget the knowledge they will gain from school or work.
The seminar had as topic talentdevelopment, what do you think should change in the educational system to use more the talent of the youth?
What has to be change in the educational system is a lot! The educational system that we now have is based on old formulas, it is target to a target group that does not exist anymore. We all know that the concentration level for this generation of students is quite low. Listing one or two hours to a theory class does not work anymore. We need to engage in more practical assignments were schools works close with company’s in their specific academic training course.
How was it to be asked questions by the moderator?
The moderator asked me some questions in front of all the adults about the discussion session with the youth of Birmingham. I must say I really liked it because it improves my presentation skills and the message about the discussion had a bigger reaching point.
How did you perceived the day?
How I perceive the day it started with some presentation that were target to the adults for me personally it was boring but that has to do because my concentration ability is quite low. However the presentation were good and helpful for the Dutch people that attend the seminar. The live skype session with the youth of Birmingham was so lovely I learned allot and it was so pleasant! Going upfront for all the adult was so awesome It gives your ego a boost that you can spread your message to them.
How could we involve the youth more in these kind of discussions, do you think it’s usefull?
The involvement of the youth is at most important because they are the target group and you need to understand and know your target group that is what we have learn from marketing! It is useful because you need to think from their perspective. We need to get schools and young people more involve by sending them invitations for this kind of events.
Do you have any other recommendations?
My recommendation is to organized it more because it is really helpful and it has giving me even more motivation to finish school. So get young people more involve!
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I went to my parents for dinner. As usual the dinner was “Rode Kool” my favorite dish. My father was still home, since his back is hurting, and he had enough time to think about annoying questions for me, like my bike and my sleeping room 
