Renzo flourishes at Ander Hout

Renzo van der Brand was taking apart stained glass windows when the company he worked for went bankrupt. His autism made it difficult to find a new job. He was unemployed for a year and a half. He recently started doing a work-learning programme at Ander Hout. “I am happier now that I am back at work and make contact with people more easily,” he says.

In the first few conversations with Werkse!, Renzo was asked what he liked to do. It became clear fairly quickly that he likes working with his hands and that he likes making things. After all, Renzo had done the same in his previous job. “Other Wood was the first option mentioned,” Renzo says. “I didn’t have much experience with wood yet, so I started a training programme.”

Training and internship in the same place

At Other Wood, they turn old wood into new products, such as furniture. Moreover, they teach the trade to people who need a new chance on the labour market. Ander Hout consists of two locations, in Den Hoorn and Wateringen. In one location, practical lessons are given. “There I learn the basics of woodworking, joining techniques and working with different machines,” he says. On Thursdays, Renzo now runs an apprenticeship.

John Waayer, co-founder of Other Wood complements Renzo: “We work with many different companies, so we can always find a suitable internship and then a job for our apprentices. For Renzo, an internship with us was the best. That’s why he now works at our second location on Thursdays.”

The co-owner himself does not make much with wood. “I mainly keep things running here, and am good at sanding and holding. But I leave the real machining to the employees.” He enjoys seeing how creative Renzo is. “You can really see that he has experience with stained glass. The other day, he made a wooden box with a stained glass top. I think it’s very cool that he combines techniques and creates new products that way.”

Smart on the shop floor

While working, Renzo receives guidance from Jefta Dekker, practical trainer and craft furniture maker. “Renzo has grown in the weeks he works here. He starts making jokes, gets smart and regularly uses me for that,” Jefta laughs towards Renzo. “To me, that is a sign that he is comfortable. He really blossoms. Besides, he is eager to learn and works hard. It’s fun to help him turn his creativity into woodworking.”

Renzo also enjoys working with Jefta. “He taught me a lot about safety. For example, when you saw something, you have to keep your hand closed. You do this by putting your hand down in a flat fist, with your fingers pointing inwards. Then if something goes wrong, your finger is not suddenly off.” He enjoys both locations, but likes the training location a bit more. “There you get to try more and you can work more slowly. At the internship site, it’s more about production and I have to really get going.”

Moving mountains with a common goal

Now that he is working at Ander Hout, Renzo has little contact with Werkse!, but says: “They really helped me a lot. Werkse! made sure I got papers stating that my autism makes it difficult to find a job. And they put me in touch with Other Wood. Without them, it probably wouldn’t have been possible.” John also enjoys working with Werkse! “We have the same goal: to make people happy and reconnect. Through such a common goal, you can move mountains.”

Renzo’s training and internship at Ander Hout will continue for another 2.5 months. After that, he aims to find a job in woodworking. Renzo hopes he can continue working at Other Wood. “I don’t like change very much. Besides, I like it here.” Whether that really works out, John dares not say. ” We don’t yet have the capacity to have everyone from the course working here, but we will make sure Renzo ends up well. Maybe here, maybe somewhere else, but at least in a place that suits him.”