the pillars of us embracing

The added value of a community is the strengthening of people. It takes someone a step further, you are empowered, so that sustainable solutions are within reach. This has a preventive effect. If you know where you can ask for help in an accessible way, it relieves you of your worries.

The Wij Omarmen community is based on three pillars, namely:

• Meet
• soften
• strengthen

1. Meet
We create a place where you like to come, not because you need help, but where it is nice to go inside. It is mainly about being seen and heard, regardless of your living situation. Here we bring worlds together. A place where you are inspired with ingredients that appeal to all residents. Where you can be encouraged to mean something to each other, without any obligation. This physical place brings the worlds together. Where there is activity, where you can pick up and deliver. When it comes to conviviality and cheerfulness, but also about exchange of knowledge and making connections. You can go there with your questions and with your advice.

2. Soften
Soothing can really help someone in the moment. You feel seen and it sometimes gives you some space to relax. It gives temporary peace. Within the community, softening is seen as valuable. Not only for the person concerned, but also for the community awareness. By stimulating solidarity and cultivating togetherness at the local level. With our cooperation partners we offer a varied range of services, products and 'treats' and of course the shopping support.

3. Strengthen
You need money to participate fully in society. For people who are structurally deficient, social isolation is lurking. If you don't belong, it's a lot harder to maintain your confidence.
At Wij Omarmen we think it is important to prevent or break through such a situation. We do this by giving trust and supporting initiatives. For example, many activities are run almost entirely by the experience experts from Omarmen and other affiliated volunteers. For example, we have a cooking club that consists of people who use the shopping support and cook a meal for the catering department of the shopping support once every two weeks. For the individual participants, this is a reinforcing and development-oriented activity.
If we come into contact with people and create a place where they feel welcome, they are more likely to share their story. This allows us to receive signals and to support them. Support here is more than financial arrangements and provisions. Everyone is involved in the community and we can help each other. We see each other, we think along with each other and different interests can complement each other. Early detection is important: this way you prevent distressing situations and problematic debts from arising. This is a first step in strengthening. By also being part of the community, and thus not only being the requester, but also the giver, there is room for recovery and development. Strengthen the experiences that everyone gains to take the next steps: problem-solving, targeted personal development, training and paid work.