For one day really shine. That people with Down syndrome can do much more than most think was once again extensively proven yesterday in Ophelialaan in Aalsmeer. This weekend, sixty young people with down had the opportunity to get to know the most diverse jobs in the shopping street for a day. They were very proud themselves.
“I can work all day!”, twelve-year-old Noortje Loerakker tells NH Nieuws enthusiastically. “She looks forward to this all year round”, smiles stepmother Hielke Visser, who proudly watches as Noortje helps customer after customer during her ‘job’ at the drugstore.
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Downtown Ophelia, work experience project for young people with Down – NH Nieuws
The girl thinks it’s all wonderful and prefers to be hired right away, but she has to wait a few more years. Her ‘colleague’ Max has just found out that this is not quite his thing. “He likes other things more,” says the shop assistant who supervises him today.
Discover what you are good at
It’s all fine, because Downtown Ophelia is all about helping young people with Down discover what they are good at. It all started with eighteen-year-old Caily Boots, who wanted to be a model one day. “Her mother asked if she could walk in the fashion show in my store,” says Downtown Ophelia initiator Ingrid Kranenburg.
Very few people with the syndrome have a job, but the Downtown Ophelia organization wants to change that. Due to the event, there is now a sheltered workshop in the street. Shopkeepers on Ophelialaan can engage young people with disabilities for odd jobs.
Seeing how well Caily does this, she decides to start an event together with co-initiator Ilse Zethof. Ilse herself has a son with Down syndrome. “I think the most important thing is that they are not tucked away,” says Ingrid. “They belong in society and you have to be open to working with them,” emphasizes de Aalsmeerse.
Fashion show as spectacle
Downtown Ophelia has since grown into an event that attracts people from all over the country, with the fashion show at the end as a spectacle. Before Caily can steal the show there, she must first work at a local clothing store.
“Not everything works out well, but she certainly does her best”
Grandpa Ger comes in the afternoon to take a look. “She’s doing really well,” he says proudly. “Not everything works out well, but she certainly does her best.” And if Caily can’t open the difficult clips on a pendant, Grandpa is happy to lend a hand.
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This year’s fashion show has a very special ‘grand finale’. Lovebirds Quinsy and Martijn get to experience what it is like to get married. The beautiful bride walks on stage dressed in a beautiful wedding dress, where she says yes to her great love. And then of course you can kiss.