MEE in a resilient city

MEE provides practical support, coaching and training courses to teach people in Rotterdam how to gain control over their lives, to move away from the sidelines and enjoy active participation; in the classroom, in the workplace, in the community, and in sports. MEE provides a safe haven, a social safety net, and the care that they need.

Resourceful network

Over 3,500 people in Rotterdam annually turn to MEE for services in the field of employment, education, sports, housing, welfare and healthcare. The professionals who work for the foundation, which is part of a resourceful, nationwide network, help people who are mentally challenged, or suffer from chronic (psychiatric) conditions or autism, by teaching them the skills necessary for long-term independent living.

Just slightly different

MEE also runs projects to help vulnerable groups to acquire specific daily life skills, for instance when it comes to healthy exercise, or to managing their bills and budgets. In addition, MEE provides training programmes and courses aimed at developing more tolerance for people who are just slightly different.

Support system

The average Dutch person can rely on a support system of 25 family members, friends or acquaintances to help them in case of emergency. Vulnerable people usually have a support system of only four persons on average. So while their problems are more complex, their support system is smaller. MEE decided that this calls for action, and stepped in. People relying on special needs transport were assigned students to teach them how to travel independently. MEE sports consultants help people with an impairment to join in exercising – and actually join them in these exercises. The underlying vision in all of these efforts is that sustainable self-reliance empowers people to stand up for themselves when things go awry.