Creation session # 7 // Key persons

Many in Gelderland are committed to the smooth integration of newcomers. Often key people are involved, people with a refugee background who form a bridge between newcomers and institutions / society. Think of interpreters, mediators, coaches, networkers, connectors, public relations officers, role models, refugees who give advice, etc. We hear positive comments from Gelderland about the added value of key people. But their position is sometimes in a gray area. What is volunteer work and what is paid work? Key persons are used at local level, knowledge is available. Is there a way to make this knowledge more sustainable? Among the key people there is a need to learn from each other and to strengthen the network. And from the municipalities and companies the question is how you can use the key persons in your organization in a meaningful and efficient way.

That is why the province of Gelderland is organizing a Make Session with Open Embassy with the task: how do we ensure that the deployment of key persons can be organized in a meaningful and efficient way?

Participants consist of a mixed group of key people, project leaders, field workers, administrators, employers, volunteers, policy makers and researchers. In the first part we make a common analysis of local dynamics in Gelderland, we zoom in on the experiences of key people and professionals. We then consider the most urgent issues. After dinner we design concrete solutions for this. Together they form a new, coordinated approach for 2019.

Goals : a. Empowerment of the key persons ; b. Empowerment of the organizations that want to work with the key persons and organizations that already employ the key persons. We want to gather knowledge about what works and what doesn't, and at the same time explore which concrete steps can be taken to use key people in a meaningful and efficient way.

Why would you come?

You can share your knowledge and expertise, gain new knowledge and ensure that your most striking action can be implemented with a group of like-minded people.

The definitive program will follow in early June.