"De Omslag is an independent, non-profit project and network organization in the field of participation"
Supervisory Board on 25 years De Omslag
Remco Bakker
Remco Bakker has been chairman of the Supervisory Board of De Omslag for two years and in his daily work he is chairman of the board of directors of the Care Assessment Center.
“What I find so special about De Omslag is that we always work by putting the people first.” It starts small, close by, and grows organically, with a focus on inclusivity and equality.
Projects such as Meetellen show how people are not only involved, but also really given a role: they survey their own group, analyze results and find their place. This is social entrepreneurship in its purest form, where social profit is central. It’s about working together based on values and trust, not on structures and systems. By not talking about people, but with them, a world is created in which everyone can continue to participate and where new ideas and paces are given space.
Tirza de Fockert
Tirza de Fockert is a member of the Supervisory Board of De Omslag. She is also a policy advisor for public libraries at the Municipality of Amsterdam and was a Municipal Councilor at the Municipality of Amsterdam for GroenLinks until early 2022.
The power of De Omslag lies in focusing on people who are often less able to participate in the way our society is organized. The starting point is that everyone can think along, talk and decide. As Tirza says: “that people for whom we make policy can also participate in discussions about that policy.” This means that it is not only your level of education or work experience that counts, but also who you are and what you bring to the table from your own experiences. Whether you have experienced poverty or been homeless, those experiences are valuable and deserve recognition. De Omslag makes this inclusive approach tangible, with a focus on co-management and creating safe spaces where everyone feels heard.
Martin Stam
Martin Stam is a former lecturer in the social domain at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and has been a member of the Supervisory Board of De Omslag for the past 8 years.
The founding of De Omslag twenty-five years ago was a response to the increasing influence of neoliberal New Public Management, which approached social problems from the outside and above. De Omslag opts for the BOS principle: solutions from Within, Bottom-up and Together. This is at odds with the rigid systems thinking that sees people as objects, rather than as equal participants: “It was not the people but the system that was leading. We found that to be the upside down world.”
De Omslag functioned as a hub for new orientations in healthcare, welfare and education, with a focus on co-creation, reciprocity and solidarity. By democratizing knowledge, she contributes to equal cooperation. The ambition to continue this change is there, now it is time to actually dare to realize it.
