Rick: "I'm really participating again"

With a broad smile, Rick talks about his internship at Jaarbeurs. He has now been doing an internship in the facilities department for over a year. A place where he finds his rhythm, where he feels welcome, and where every day he proudly arranges the cooling of the roof, checks rooms and meticulously keeps his work list. "It's quieter than where I worked before. That's nice. There are three to four of us in the team. I really feel at home here." Rick was one of the participants of the Erik Scherder House, a special initiative for people with non-congenital brain injury. The house provides structure, personal support and opportunities to actively participate in society again. Rick is an example of how such an opportunity can grow into a sustainable perspective. "We deliberately took the step to an internship at Jaarbeurs because we believed in Rick and in the power of cooperation," says his supervisor from the Erik Scherder House. "And the great thing is: it works."

A new course, after years of fighting
Rick's story is one of perseverance. At 17, a brain tumour was discovered that temporarily paralysed him. He had to relearn everything: walking, speaking and functioning. "I've been struggling for 13 years. Recently I felt: I'm really participating again."

Before his brain injury, Rick worked in inland navigation for many years. "I was an apprentice skipper from the age of 14. I sailed on the Rhine in Belgium and Germany. But they were long days, sometimes up to 100 hours in five days. At some point, that was no longer tenable." The transition to a mainland job was big, but necessary. "At Jaarbeurs, I now work four mornings a week. That's manageable and good to do. And the colleagues are really super nice."

A workplace with room to grow
The cooperation between the Erik Scherder Huis and Jaarbeurs arose partly through the Zorg & ict trade fair, where professor of neuropsychology Erik Scherder was involved as a speaker. From there, the connection was made and Rick got the chance to do his internship at Jaarbeurs. "It's great to see how an organisation like Jaarbeurs not only gives someone like Rick a place, but really sees and supports him," says Erik Scherder. "Work is so much more than income: it gives structure, self-esteem and social connection. That's exactly what the Erik Scherder House is all about." Rick, too, feels that value on a daily basis. In the afternoons, he often went back to the Erik Scherder Huis in Amsterdam. "There we play sports, learn and you can take courses. BHV, English, if you want to learn something, it's discussed. You have to indicate it yourself, but you get the space. That variety is really nice."

Future plans and pride
Rick dreams of eventually becoming a caretaker. He is still in the middle of his development, but dares to make plans again. "I'm discovering what I can handle, and how far I can go. Sometimes I do worry whether I can keep it up, but so far it's going well." At home, he takes care of his dog, enjoys cooking and is out and about a lot. And perhaps most importantly, he recently got his own house. "Those are really milestones for me," he says. At Jaarbeurs, colleagues look at Rick with admiration. His commitment, honesty and perseverance impress them. He is a valuable colleague, and his story shows what is possible when people and organisations give each other room to grow.