‘IJmuiden staat op’ it’s a scalable approach in which motivated local residents stand up together against problems related to drug crime among youngsters. Under supervision, they work in teams during five design sessions towards a concrete solution to prevent youngsters from ending up in drug crime
Time for action!
Drug crime amongst youth seems to become more common in many places. It’s therefore not rare that youngsters are approached to deal drugs, sometimes already at the age of 13. In the eyes of the youngster, this may seem like a good way to make a quick buck, but the adolescent brain is not always able to fully understand the effects. What starts innocently, can have major consequences. For example, it happens that youngsters find themselves feeling that they no longer have a choice and end up deeper and deeper into shit. Time for action!
The approach
The police and municipality are now fighting this problem, but they can’t do it alone. IJmuiden staat op gets residents moving. It’s a scalable approach in which motivated local residents stand up together against problems related to drug crime among youngsters. Under supervision, they work in teams during five design sessions towards a concrete solution to prevent youngsters from ending up in drug crime. The results could be implemented within their own municipality. Prior to these sessions, qualitative research is conducted into the underlying causes of the local problem. Armed with this knowledge, the residents can be helped to design a solution for the actual core of the problem. Connecting with local parties, such as the municipality, schools and existing local initiatives during the process is crucial for a successful result. This approach offers residents a perspective for action, creates more support for tackling the problem and counteracts normalization.
