Difficult youngsters on the rugby field: Launch of a turnover project in Amsterdam

The Turnover project started nine years ago in Alkmaar. Founder and manager Joeri Peperkamp was working in a closed youth home and decided things could be improved.

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

The group of youngsters standing on the rugby pitch in Geuzenveld is now about three months away. 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.

In attendance were former UK rugby international Delon Armitage and Dutchman Fabian Holland (20), who plays rugby in New Zealand and is one of Turnover’s ambassadors. “What Joeri and the people at 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. It’s really cool.” Joeri is proud that Fabian is here today. “He’s just a crazy role model for these young people.”

Next year, the turnover will be ten years old. “Of the 950 young people we have helped so far, 80% have returned to school or work,” says Joeri. “But what I think is much more important is that 65 per cent of our young people no longer revert to old behaviour. They no longer come into the picture with the police. I think that’s a very good number. Not just for the youngster, but also for us.”