Local broadcaster RTV Meppel will make two radio broadcasts from a special location tomorrow afternoon. The shows are broadcast live from the refugee boat on the Paradijsweg. The ship has been there since November last year and can accommodate 98 men.
The idea comes from Eduard Annen, a volunteer at the broadcaster. In daily life he works for the municipalities of Hoogeveen and De Wolden, where he has conversations with refugees whose children have to go to school. “I made contacts in this way, including with the person who is the manager of the boat in Meppel. So the line was already there and this plan was made quickly.”
“The COA was also immediately enthusiastic,” continues Annen, who may also know Meppelers as the leader of the Sterk Meppel political party. “They really want to open the doors of these kinds of locations. The radio show is therefore public: interested parties are welcome to attend the broadcast, view the boat and talk to the residents. There is absolutely no secrecy, the coffee is ready.”
“In the meantime, we would like to conduct interviews with the residents,” says Annen. “It should be a unique look into their lives and motivations for coming here.” However, the radio maker thinks this will still be a challenge. “I think it is difficult to get asylum seekers in front of the microphone and have their story told. There is a fear among people that people in Syria are listening in, or that it could have a negative impact on the asylum procedure. But I will just leave tomorrow. them off.”
The shows are going on anyway. Location managers have their say and an employee of Taalpunt Meppel talks about the Dutch language lessons that are given to the asylum seekers. “And there’s music!” Annen says with a laugh. “I’m really enjoying it.”
“I think this is a wonderful initiative,” says RTV Meppel chairman Hans Wolff. “There are far too many prejudices about the refugees, so I applaud them for making the effort to broadcast from the boat. I hope many of the residents will want to appear in front of the microphone, but I’m sure it will be fine. A few of them are volunteers at sports events. I contacted them there and it was very positive. There is little to criticize about their efforts at those events, so the broadcast will be fine.”