The annual Horse and Heritage event in Frederiksoord has won the Kern met Pit trophy in Drenthe. The organization of the event competed for the award with twelve other Drenthe (neighborhood) initiatives.
Prior to the presentation of the Kern met Pit trophy, Paard en Erfgoed chairman Sebraine Meijerink did not have many expectations. “We just went to the awards ceremony but didn’t take the profit into account at all. There are so many projects that are very appealing.” In addition to Horse and Heritage, other Drenthe submissions included plans for a playground, a vegetable garden and a youth center.
The Kern with Pit competition is a national initiative that supports neighborhood initiatives with a sum of one thousand euros, but also with advice and the right contacts. Each year, one initiative is selected per province to help realize its plans for a year.
Horse and Heritage is an event that is held every year in Frederiksoord during the Pentecost weekend. “The prize is a great incentive to continue on the chosen path,” says Meijerink. “We are not only a fun fair, but also a social event. With the amount of money we can accelerate slightly.”
Paard en Erfgoed collaborates with ten healthcare organizations in Drenthe that offer day care for clients who are at a distance from the labor market. “These clients help us all year round, from making flag lines to hanging banners and setting up market stalls. This gives the clients the opportunity to show their qualities and become a full part of a team.”
With the win from the Kern with Pit competition, the organization can make even more efforts there, Meijerink explains. “We can devote more time and attention to developing talent and participating. We can also welcome the various healthcare locations more extensively with catering, as a thank you for their efforts.”
What will the organization be like in a year’s time? “Then I hope that those clients from various day care locations can contribute with all the fun and enthusiasm and that they gain a wonderful experience. In this way they develop more self-confidence, more belief in their own abilities and they can take a step up the social ladder .”