A first for asylum seeker center (asc) Gilze: the asc is the first reception location in the Netherlands to have its own Cruyff Court! A new, safe space to play sports and games for all residents of this reception location.
On Thursday 25 April, not entirely coincidentally Johan Cruijff's birthday, the field was inaugurated with great enthusiasm and great interest from the residents. This Cruyff Court was made possible through a contribution from the Jones Day Foundation.
Asc Gilze is a former army site where the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers) has accommodated up to 1,200 people since 1993. In recent years, the national monumental complex has been renovated in several phases to make it future proof, increase social safety and offer the residents more independence. The Cruyff Court is the beginning of the Field of Dreams, where various sports activities and outdoor play equipment will be located.
"Sports and games are healthy for everyone," says an overjoyed site manager Deborah van der Meer of asc Gilze. "But sports also provide relaxation and distraction, connection and fraternization, something to look forward to and structure. And that is very important for all of our residents!"
Niels Meijer, director of the Cruyff Foundation: "Sport gives endless power and has a great impact on the development of children, young people and adults. This is true in South Africa, in China, and in the asylum center. Sport helps to grow. To learn new skills, make friends and develop self-confidence. It gives you tools to find a place in society."
After the official opening, the actual commissioning of the iconic field took place: a soccer competition between teams of residents, employees, partners and, lawyers and staff of Jones Day’s Amsterdam office, who, submitted a grant application to the Jones Day Foundation, to help make the construction of the field possible. Even Mayor Derk Alssema kicked a ball around.
