Meeting people across the country who are committed to connecting different cultures, perspectives and experiences is always a heartwarming experience. Meeting people from various European countries, however, felt both warm and refreshingly new. Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the annual ENIEC gathering in Nijmegen, where I experienced first-hand what such an international encounter can be like over the course of three days.
ENIEC (www.eniec.com) was established in 2007 by Grete Madsen and Jan Booij. The network gathers annually in a different European city. It is a community of professionals working on issues related to older people with a migration background and older people from an ethnic minority, although always in a personal capacity.
For years, I had been invited to join this gathering, but I always felt that my schedule didn’t allow it. To be honest, fear of the unknown also played a part. Don’t ask me why, it was more of a feeling. This time, the network convened in Nijmegen, not far from home, requiring only minimal travel time. So, for the first time, I joined. Officially in a personal capacity, yet also to share about the work of the Ben Sajet Centre and SOMNL, and to exchange experiences that could enrich my own professional practice.
What struck me immediately was the atmosphere: a warm sense of recognition, informality, and genuine welcome for new participants. After a formal opening by alderwoman Cilia Daemen, the ENIEC board and the organising committee, ample time was set aside for informal introductions. No one minded when an English word didn’t come easily – someone always jumped in to help. Speaking a language you haven’t used in a while becomes surprisingly easier in such a setting. Sharing a meal at the end of the first day turned out to be the perfect prelude to the more content-driven sessions that followed.
The theme of this year’s gathering was Elderly Care in a Changing World, with sessions focusing on the use of technology, international care staff, and the creation of suitable living environments.
In six workshops, professionals shared their experiences. One of them was Sevilay Luiken-Dalli, director of IMEAN (www.imean.nl), an organisation supporting elderly people with a migration background in the region of Twente. She spoke passionately about the use of avatar Anne – a digital tool that reminds elderly people of their appointments or when to take medication. It’s a promising innovation with potential for further development.
Young architects Alara Külekci and Renske de Meijer (kokon.nl) explored with their participants how to collect the wishes and needs of elderly people to develop diverse housing concepts.
On the final day, we visited a beautiful location in Hees, now part of Nijmegen, where we were introduced to a day programme for Arabic-speaking men. Conny van der Aalsvoort from Sterker Sociaal Werk and Igor van der Vlist from Directe Zorg Nijmegen shared their approach to care for individuals who need support but should certainly not be marginalised. The challenges were tangible, but so were the benefits of working directly with the people themselves.
Participants from various countries shared experiences that differed slightly from what we see in the Netherlands. For example, Finland is home to older people from the former ‘Greater Russia’ – a migrant group less familiar to us. And of course, there were many shared challenges too, such as reaching older adults when language becomes a barrier due to conditions like dementia. That is an area where collaboration could flourish, for instance, through the use of images, objects, and music.
The next ENIEC gathering is scheduled to take place in Frankfurt from 15–17 April 2026. And while it may be a bit further away, I must say the temptation to attend again is strong.
Jeanny works for Somnl and the Ben Sajet centre
The original article you find on the website of the Ben Sajet centre
