Getting to work thanks to the MensOntwikkelBedrijf
A route along the trash cans every day.
The MensOntwikkelBedrijf (MOB) of the municipality of Leudal guides vulnerable residents and benefit recipients to suitable work. Like Maurice Bongers (24) from Heythuysen. He has been working for two years in green maintenance and waste collection. His goal is to participate independently in society as much as possible, with all the challenges that brings. Because Maurice needs daily guidance to function and work well. Meanwhile, he has found his perfect workplace: every day he drives through Roggel and Heythuysen to empty public waste garbage cans and clean up litter. For this he has his own electric truck at his disposal.
"I like that freedom with my own car, because I don't work very well with colleagues. Then I can't concentrate well. If things don't go exactly the way I want, I also get into arguments quickly. Since I work by myself, I am much less likely to get angry. I know exactly where all the trash cans are and can determine my own route along them. But of course I have to keep my work commitments. On Mondays and Fridays I always do the 20 garbage cans in the center of Roggel and Heythuysen anyway, because they are extra full then. I know approximately when the other garbage cans are full. So I don't have to visit those every week."
Diplomas
"On my phone I also get the reports of garbage dumping. Sometimes it's quite a scavenger hunt to find such a place where, for example, mattresses, tires or garbage have been dumped. If it's hazardous waste, I don't clean it up myself. Then I cordon off the spot and contact the specialists. Through the MOB, I have my diplomas for working with hedge trimmers, brush cutters, leaf blowers and ride-on mowers. So I can do varied work. On Thursdays I get cooking lessons from volunteers through the MOB. And because I can't read and write very well, I also get language lessons from them on Tuesdays. I enjoy these lessons, but they are also quite tough. Eventually I would like to live on my own with supervision, because a living group doesn't work for me. I'd prefer to work here all the time. Because you won't fool me anymore about trash cans and green chores."