JINC, the largest social mobility organisation in the Netherlands, works with schools, businesses and volunteers to strengthen young people’s social skills, broaden their career horizons and improve their prospects in the labour market. 

Many young people from socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods have limited access to role models, professional networks and practical guidance when making choices about education and work. This can affect their confidence, their sense of what is possible and, ultimately, their progression into further education and employment. By connecting young people with business professionals, JINC helps break down social barriers, build resilience and increase self-confidence. 

The partnership with The Hg Foundation, launched in 2023, has enabled JINC to expand its STEM careers offering for students in pre-vocational and vocational education(the main Dutch routes into skilled trades and technical careers, followed by around half of all students). Research shows that girls, students without family members working in STEM and young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to underestimate their STEM abilities, even when they perform equally well or better than their peers. This is not an individual deficit, but the result of young people’s environment, exposure and access to opportunity. 

Through the programme, students take part in short “flash internships”: half-day company visits where they experience a professional working environment, meet employees and discover what a career in STEM can look like in practice. JINC also integrates counter-stereotypical examples and growth-mindset language into its teaching materials, helping students recognise that STEM careers are achievable and relevant to them. 

In addition, young people receive career coaching from business volunteers, supporting them to reflect on their interests, explore future pathways and better understand opportunity-rich sectors such as STEM. By combining practical experiences, role models and accessible career information, JINC helps students build confidence in their career choices and shows them not only what is possible, but how to get there. 

Since the start of the partnership, the programme has reached more than 1,800 young people across the Netherlands through JINC’s national hub network.

Case study – Ike, Programme participant

Before Ike joined a JINC programme, the world of work felt distant. Growing up, stability was not always a given. His mother had moved from Nigeria to the Netherlands at 18 and worked hard while trying to navigate an unfamiliar system. Ike moved often, carried responsibilities from a young age, and had few role models around him who could show what a professional career or future path could look like. As he later reflected, he did not know anyone in a management position or with their own business.

That changed when Ike took part at JINC. What started as a welcome day away from school became a turning point. For the first time, he entered an office environment and saw a side of professional life he had never imagined. It felt adult, different and possible. The experience opened a door to a new world: he saw that work could be social, meaningful and within reach. Just as importantly, JINC introduced him to people outside his own environment, helping him understand the value of networks, curiosity and the courage to try new things.

Today, Ike combines his career in IT with a strong social mission. Through Future Moves, he helps young people take concrete steps towards their goals by giving them access to networks, peer-to-peer support, professionals and relevant organisations. Future Moves does not act as an individual counsellor, but as a connector: helping young people find the right people, information and opportunities around themes such as work, education, money, housing, personal development, mental wellbeing and entrepreneurship.

Ike’s journey shows how early exposure to new environments can do more than broaden horizons. It can help a young person imagine a future, build confidence, understand the power of a network, and later create opportunities for others.