Wel-zijn in Feijenoord: naar een inclusieve samenleving

From 2018 to 2022, Humanitas Rotterdam was responsible for welfare work in the Feijenoord area of Rotterdam (90,000 inhabitants). Humanitas' approach was new in the Netherlands. The starting point was that everyone in the area bears responsibility for welfare. Residents, clubs, associations, organisations, schools, businesses, churches, mosques, and other philosophical organisations all play a role in the approach. Humanitas encouraged all parties to volunteer and offered the necessary support.

To understand the results of this approach, the process was followed by an interactive, participatory, case study research. The research offers insights into the dynamics of welfare work in general and Rotterdam welfare work in particular. It addresses policy expectations regarding the professionalisation of welfare work and how welfare workers can become resilient to the constant changes and challenges they face. The study builds on theoretical insights on resilience and (normative) professionalisation.