Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Antwerp juvenile court initiates ‘Toekans’ as a new project to motivate businesses to sponsor youth care participants. The juvenile court establishes the ‘Toekans’ program to permit young people with challenging home lives and juvenile offenders to find and advance their talents.
The ‘Toekans’ initiative from Antwerp Juvenile Court addresses the employment gap between youth care recipients and professionals through its established program. The project creates paths for minors who face home troubles and legal issues to explore their abilities for development.
The juvenile court collaborates with companies and mentors to transform public assumptions about these youths and build career pathways which can lead them toward professional employment.
The initiative presents an exhibition at the Butterfly Palace that serves as a platform for youths to display their artistic and creative talents together with their work.
“Young people from youth care are often forgotten in our society. We want to show that there are many young people here with talent. They are unfairly on the margins of society,”
says juvenile judge Isabelle Ven.
“With this project we want to give companies a different image of young people from youth care, on the other hand we want to change the image of our young people towards companies. They often still think that it is an unattainable goal.”
Companies can, for example, invite young people to get acquainted or offer them an internship.
The young people themselves think it is a nice initiative.
“I want to show other people that there is more to young people like me. We also have a voice and are not just a file,”
says Luca (19).
16-year-old Dako also shows his artwork at the exhibition.
“I didn’t even know I could draw until I made something and they told me I had talent. Now my artwork hangs here in the Butterfly Palace, but also in various youth centres. I’m proud of myself and really hope I can achieve something with this.”
Where and how are the youths showcasing their talents?
The Butterfly Palace walking hall presents pieces from the ‘Toekans’ project members as part of its ongoing exhibition. Participating individuals use this event to showcase their artistic abilities by exhibiting their creations and performing their works.
The juvenile court plans to increase these opportunities while showing these youths that they have meaningful value to offer. Companies, together with mentors who support the initiative, can work with the court to deliver additional guidance and opportunities to the participants.
