Emma at Work and the umcs join forces for talented newcomers with chronic physical conditions
On Friday 31 January, the university medical centres in the Netherlands signed a cooperation agreement with the Emma at Work Foundation. This collaboration is based on a shared ambition and sets in motion a movement aimed at referring talented young people aged 15 to 39 with a chronic physical condition to Emma at Work via the medical centre, where they receive free guidance towards the labour market.
The umcs help young people with occupational disabilities find work through various initiatives. Through their collaboration with Emma at Work, referred talents gain access to the free development programme, the GAP Track. In addition, the foundation puts the talents in touch with companies that have joined Emma at Work to practise applying for jobs, expand their network and find a fun job that suits them. These are employers who value diversity and inclusion, are committed to it and are looking for motivated new employees. In 2024 alone, more than 200 young people completed the GAP Track, enabling them to enter the job market with confidence or find a suitable job.
‘The collaboration with the umcs gives even more young talents who are looking for work the opportunity to develop their personal skills at Emma at Work. We also connect the young people to our business network so that they can practise applying for jobs and get a fair chance at employment. These young people are an inspiration and a valuable addition to any organisation.’ Juliette Hasselbach, director of Emma at Work.
‘Every day, we see the strength and resilience of young talents who have ambitions despite their chronic conditions. Together with Emma at Work, we want to help them realise those ambitions,’ Yolande van der Linden, Director of HR at Amsterdam UMC.
In the longer term, the intention is to create more opportunities for young talents within their own teams at the university medical centres. To inspire employees about the value of diversity and what these talents can contribute, Emma at Work organises inspiration sessions within the affiliated hospitals, among other things.
About Emma at Work
In order to address not only the health aspects but also the social impact of chronic illness, Emma at Work was founded in 2006 by the Emma Children’s Hospital. This initiative is now supported by all university medical centres in the Netherlands, which have joined forces to offer young talents with chronic physical conditions better opportunities on the labour market. Emma at Work guides young talents with chronic physical conditions to suitable jobs. By following the GAP Track development programme, Emma at Work talents enter the job market with greater confidence. Together with its partners from the business world, politics and healthcare, the GAP200, the foundation contributes to an inclusive job market. This collaboration not only leads to new opportunities for the talents, but also enriches the diversity and pride of the organisations committed to this cause.