I have been very busy the last weeks but tomorrow I will enjoy a few days of Easter holiday. We have never celebrated Easter to any major extent but this year we have a “påskris” and the kids have done quite a lot of Easter decorations. My parents have taken care of their grandchildren for a week and are probably in need of a holiday as well now! We will enjoy some nice food and visit Hornborgarsjön in Sweden. Lake Hornborga is a paradise for resting and breeding wetland birds. Every year, the lively dance steps of the resting cranes attract huge crowds of spectators and this year 18 500 wetland birds have arrived at the lake.
Last week I finished an evaluation report regarding our municipal partner project with Voi in Kenya. This project, funded by the Swedish aid organization SIDA, was set up with the purpose of developing a relationship between the Municipality in Voi, Kenia and Ulricehamn municipality. By visiting each other a platform was established where future ideas, regarding knowledgeexchenge and cooperation between us, can grow. We found three areas of mutual interest which we now want to develop: environmental and climate issues, democracy issues and health and substance abuse issues. Before the first of May a concrete project plan will be handed in to SIDA. I am looking forward to visit Voi and Kenya in the fall or next year. Since my stay in South Africa, Africa holds a special place in my heart and yesterday I read an engaging article about Kenya on the flight back to Sweden.
The last four days have been spent in Amsterdam visiting the UVW. I know a lot of Dutch people have a negative image of the UVW but I was impressed. The Dutch system is so well thought through and the different institutions (unemployment offices, health insurance companies and the social insurance offices work together in a much more effective way then they do in Sweden). They have been able to lower their numbers of people on a disability benefit from almost 10% to 4 % (in Sweden we are somewhere above 6 %) and both employers and employees think that the system has been beneficial. The cost savings are enormous and currently the average Dutch person calls in sick 1.2 times a year! As the employers are financially responsible for any sickness the first 2 years they really have to work hard on keeping the employees motivated and happy. I think this encourage employability as it is essential for employers to help employees to develop and learn more.
Our trip to Amsterdam was not only a success looking at the content of the seminars. We had some time to enjoy Amsterdam by boat and visit the restaurant “De Kas” which was a memorable moment! Anyone looking for a really nice restaurant, at a beautiful location with a excellent menu should go there! http://www.restaurantdekas.nl/
Enjoy the Easter holiday!
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