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SamenWerk Foundation for International Co-operation Almere

Since 1996, Almere has maintained friendship relations with the city of Kumasi in Ghana. In 2001, the Mayors of Almere and Kumasi signed the “Sister Cities Agreement 2001-2006”, in which the principles of their co-operation are laid down. The SamenWerk foundation co-ordinates all activities that are carried out as part of this sister cities agreement. Furthermore, civil servants of both cities – on executive and managerial levels – maintain regular contact .

SamenWerk in action!

In close co-operation with the people of Kumasi, non-governmental organisations and municipal departments, SamenWerk implements small-scale projects, which aim to improve the standard of living in underprivileged areas of the city.
These projects include training programmes for street children, support for women groups and schools. SamenWerk involves the people of Almere in the Kumasi projects by providing guest lectures at schools and by organising popular events like the annual Africa Day. Furthermore, frequent exchange programmes in the field of art and culture take place between the two cities.
The SamenWerk foundation also provides a part of its annual budget to support other initiatives in Almere destined for international co-operation.
In the sister cities agreement between Almere and Kumasi a give-and-take basis is considered to be of utmost importance. SamenWerk strives to establish an equal and mutual relationship, which will prove to be beneficial to all parties, involved.

The SamenWerk organisation

SamenWerk is an independent foundation, with a board, a project co-ordinator and three working groups. Three members of the board form the executive committee. The other members of the board participate in the various work groups.
A major role is played by the project co-ordinator. He is the contact person between Almere and Kumasi, advises the board and co-ordinates the activities of the working groups. Apart from the project co-ordinator, all members of the board and the work groups act on a voluntary basis. There are three work groups, each with a specific task.

Projects work group

\This work group is concerned with the technical and policy support of the projects in Kumasi. The work group maintains contacts with various partners in Kumasi. Project proposals from Kumasi are judged on a number of criteria like financial feasibility, public support, participation and sustainability. Eventually, the work group advises the SamenWerk board on the proposal. The composition of the work group depends on the type of projects. The citizens are the key figures in every project. They are actively involved in every phase of the project, from preparation to implementation. The work group strives to include a component of employment in every project, to create opportunities for small scale and starting entrepreneurs.

Education work group

This work group maintains relationships between several schools in Almere and partner schools in Kumasi, by organising the exchange of letters, pictures and drawings made by pupils. In order to inform youth in Almere about the life of their peers in Kumasi, the work group has developed teaching packages, which schools can borrow, free of charge. This instruction suitcase contains objects of daily life, pictures and stories of Ghana, which inform primary school pupils in a positive way about the daily life of children in Kumasi.
Funds raised by schools in Almere, for the benefit of their Kumasi counterparts, are doubled by SamenWerk.

Communication work group

By means of structural and regular information, the work group Communication tries to involve the citizens of Almere in the relationship with Kumasi. This work group develops brochures, a two monthly information bulletin, a website and exhibits. Furthermore, the work group maintains contacts with local and regional press and organises events and lectures.
SamenWerk can not exist without volunteers, enthusiastic people who aspire to implement the activities of the foundation. For more information on SamenWerk, please contact the secretariat at:

SamenWerk, foundation for international co-operation, Almere

P.O. BOX 200
1300 AE Almere
The Netherlands
Visitor’s address: Town Hall, Stadhuisplein 1, Almere

Telephone 00 31 36 539 9424
Fax 00 31 36 539 9931
E-mail samenwerk@almere.nl
Web www.samenwerk.nl

The SamenWerk foundation is registered at the Flevoland Chamber of Commerce, number 41246019.