On the Oostelijke Eilanden, a unique educational initiative is giving adult residents a second chance at earning a vocational qualification. The school, known as EC-O and based at Windroosplein, provides free vocational training aimed specifically at Amsterdammers aged 27 and older.
Many of the participants come from strong migration backgrounds, face complex personal situations, or live in financial hardship.
While standard welfare rules in the Netherlands typically restrict people on benefits from studying for more than a single year, the Municipality of Amsterdam makes a special exception for those enrolled here.
Removing barriers to employment
Founded by principal Nooshi Forozesh, the program grew out of her observations at a neighborhood center in the Indische Buurt, where rigid age cutoffs for financial aid prevented adults from pursuing further education.
After studying economics at the University of Amsterdam, she turned to social entrepreneurship to lower these barriers for residents with non-traditional paths.
Students work toward their qualifications while gaining practical workplace experience through structured internships. Dedicated coaches and municipal staff remain available on-site to assist with personal guidance and job placement services.
Proven results for local integration
Funding for the initiative relies on a combination of city grants and contributions from various social funds. The model has proven effective, with more than 500 participants having already graduated from the center.
Over half of those graduates successfully transition into paid employment within a year of completing their studies.
For many current attendees, including refugees balancing language acquisition with family worries, the school provides a vital sanctuary and a realistic route to financial independence.
