When Rotterdam-based business partners Rodney van den Hengel and Marco den Dunnen hit on the idea to start a coffee roastery, they stumbled onto an untapped market. Now, several years later, Heilige Boontjes (‘Holy Beans’) is paving the way to give young people who are at a disadvantage on the job market a second chance.
It was in the course of their careers in the police force and reintegration coaching that the pair were struck by how few training opportunities exist to help young people from troubled backgrounds find work. ‘We wanted to make coffee as an artisanal product available to a wider target group’, explains Rodney. ‘We also felt it was important to offer these youngsters a place where they can grow and aren’t dogged by problems from their past. For them, it’s fun to interact with customers, work with quality products and make progress.’
Inclusive coffee roaster
Regardless of background, ethnicity or sex, at Heilige Boontjes everyone gets the same treatment and pay cheque. Young hires arrive via various routes – through the city’s youth desk, employer service point, the police, probation service, or by applying on the website. ‘We train around 25 youngsters a year. Our expertise is on the streets and in employment. The first thing we look at is whether we can work with that person and what it will take. Not everyone is a good fit, and we’re honest about that.’ After an initial three-month period, they draw up a diagnosis and action plan for each hire. As well as offering internal training programmes for young people, the coffee roaster also runs a partnership with Albeda College to offer work placements. ‘We want to be a model for other employers. It takes time, energy and a healthy show of anger from time to time, but you’re making the city a better place.’Active citizens
Rodney and Marco’s coffee roastery has built a platform for a brighter future. Over the past six years, they’ve grown from one pop-up shop to two locations plus a webshop dedicated to lending a helping hand to more than 120 young people. ‘People have no idea how much impact they’re making by buying our coffee. Our hires re-engage with society as active citizens.’ In the future, the two hope to roll out their concept to more cities in the Netherlands.TEXT Céline Boute
More information
www.heiligeboontjes.com
5 april 2023
Het is lente! En dus hét startsein om weer massaal naar buiten te gaan. Rotterdam roept alle inwoners, ondernemers en bedrijven op om te kijken waar er in ieders omgeving nog tegels verruild kunnen worden voor groen.
5 april 2023
Rotterdam Central District (RCD) is in ontwikkeling. Voor dit gebied rondom het Weena zijn veel plannen. Zo komen er meer woningen, extra levendigheid en groen.
3 maart 2023
YES!Delft en MRDH zijn een samenwerking gestart om uit te zoeken wat de rol robotica kan spelen in het publieke domein. Aan welke soort hybride robotica toepassingen moet je denken?
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