Practical strategies for helping the migrant to raise Income levels

Event 2: TV programme

Topic: Practical strategies for helping the migrant to raise Income levels

Activity Date: Sunday, 16 September 2018

Activity Description:

In this broadcast we will be exploring practical strategies for helping migrants in

Bijlmer Centrum to raise their income levels. Bijlmer Centrum is one of the

residential neighbourhoods of Amsterdam Southeast with some unique statistics:

• Bijlmer Center is an area with relatively many young people: 20% of the

population is younger than 18 years;

• There is a lot of poverty too; 38% of the young live in a households with

minimum income compared with the Amsterdam average of 21%. Again, 24% of

those live in long-term poverty (14% for Amsterdam).

• The percentage of low-skilled school leavers (though declining) is far above the

Amsterdam average.

In this programme an attempt was made as people who are affected but also

concerned about our future and that of our children. Under consideration also was

what we can bring to the table to compliment the intention of the government in

eradicating poverty?

Highlights

Poverty is a fact of life among people of Bijlmer Centrum. To eradicate poverty

among migrants requires education. Though some are literate lack of mastery of

Dutch language skills can be a setback.

For migrants coming over here with equivalent qualifications, comparative age may

become an issue because there may be younger natives with similar qualifications.

Black people seem talented with music and theatre arts, they should explore more

possibilities in these sectors. There’s probably too much emphasis on formal job

functions like white-collar jobs.

A talent hub for our community should be created from which successful people

can be sourced. If say two out of a hundred prospects become successful, they are

likely to give back to the society which spotlighted them.

Taking advantage of supplementary source of income such as buy and selling on

online trading places like Marktplaats.nl are innovative ways of making money.

Working extra time sounds good but people end up paying more tax for the extra

time done.

People should be thinking more how to create or add value instead of how to make

money first of all. Money will naturally follow value creation. More migrants should

be thinking in this manner.

Successful migrants can set up collective businesses which can employ other

migrants as well as set up internship places for the youth.

Local catering is a promising business because people have to eat anyway and

there are many small-scale caterers in the community.

We need education, but not in the sense of classroom training, People must learn,

change their mindset to becoming innovative.

A mindset that believes in status symbols such as wearing designer goods can

make people poorer because they pay more than is necessary.