‘Follow-up for successful program that helps partners of international knowledge workers to find work'

The name says it all: the Women for Women program is aimed at linking Dutch women woith a succesful career to international talent. 'It concerns highly educated women who come to the Netherlands because of their partner's job,' says Ed Heerschap. ‘we create a sort of mentorship: the local ambassador coaches an international talent. A very powerful combination.' More than 180 women have already been matched. More than 80% of the international talents have found a job within three to six months. During meetings, workshops and training sessions, the local ambassadors and international talents come together and a close-knit network is created. That's great to see.”

Impact on your relationship According to Ed, it is extremely important that the partner of a knowledge worker also feels welcome. ‘If she cannot build her own future, talent will disappear from our region. She needs to feel like she belongs here and that her presence matters.” Kavitha knows from her own experience how important that is. ‘I came to the Netherlands from India because my husband found work here. In India I worked in architecture, but in the Netherlands that is difficult because of the language barrier. Moreover, in the first months to a year you are mainly busy finding a house and a school for your children, and so on. This creates a gap in your resume, which can make you lose self-confidence.' 'Moreover,' Ed adds: 'If you are used to both having careers, there is an imbalance if only one is still working. That has an impact on your relationship.'

Region Deal Brainport Eindhoven

The program was developed with funding from Region Deal Brainport Eindhoven. “Before we set up the Women for Women program, Kavitha and I already knew each other. She is the founder of the Expat Spouses Initiative and I am the coordinator of the Living In program of Holland Expat Center South. When we had the opportunity to set up this program from the Region Deal, I immediately thought it was a great opportunity to create a program together with Kavitha. There was only one way to set up such a program: together.'

Women for women is taken further with Talent100

And so they did: ‘We get a lot of positive reactions from the participating women,’ says Kavitha. ‘One of the best was: "My local ambassador is what the Netherlands stands for. I felt welcome and understood."' The program now has entered a new chapter under the name Talent100, with co-financing from Huis naar Werk. An  extensive program that has two career-oriented components in addition to Woman for Woman. Ed: ‘That would not have been possible without the Region Deal. The idea of that funding was to set up a sustainable program. A program that continues, even if funding stops. So that certainly worked out.' Kavitha thinks that the community of ambassadors is one of the most important reasons for this. “They are all just as passionate as I am. Meanwhile, international talents have even become local ambassadors. Now the circle is complete.”