Difficult young people on the rugby field: Turnover project started in Amsterdam

Project Turnover started nine years ago in Alkmaar. Founder and director Joeri Peperkamp used to work in closed youth care and decided that things could be improved.

“The young people we guide with Turnover come into contact with rugby on a daily basis, but also other sports such as boxing, jiu-jitsu and basketball. The young people are registered with us by the municipality, the parents or the judiciary. The young people come to us for a period from three to a maximum of nine months. During that period we try to get them back to school through sport. We have a whole team that gets to work with the young people. To get those young people going again from movement.”

The group of young people standing on the rugby field in Geuzenveld is now about three months further. It’s a mixed group. Boys and girls, between 12 and 16 years old. On Friday there was an official moment to celebrate the move to Amsterdam.

Those present included former British rugby international Delon Armitage and the Dutch Fabian Holland (20), who plays rugby in New Zealand and is one of the ambassadors of Turnover. “What Joeri and the people of Turnover have done is really special. To see all these young people like this. That a new path has been created for them through rugby. That is just really cool.” Joeri is proud that Fabian is there today. “He’s just an insane role model for these youngsters.”

Next year Turnover will be ten years old. “Of the 950 young people we have helped so far, 80 percent have returned to school or to work,” says Joeri. “But what I think is much more important is that 65 percent of our young people no longer revert to old behavior. They no longer come into the picture with the police. I think that is a very good figure. Not only for the young person, but also for us.”