Getting started at city of Antwerp, an exciting gamechanger

May 1998

With some nervousness, I make my way to the city festival hall on Antwerp's Meir. A place I go to more often. Today not to party or tap beer, but to apply for a job. The neighbourhood surveillance department of the city of Antwerp is looking for two new neighbourhood surveillance officers.

A job I can see myself doing. I know a few of them, and every time they tell me about it, I think of it as a really cool, social and fascinating job, really something for me. 

It would give me the opportunity to do something for my city in a positive way. A commitment that could counter the negativity after yet another black Sunday for me. (This is how people named the elections here, due to a lot of success for a far-right racist party) 

So I prepared myself thoroughly. Not only studied additional information about the job. But also who in the current city administration is a deputy councillor for which authority. Someone told me that they are sure to ask questions about that too. 

"WTF!": the city festival hall is completely full. When we start, every seat is taken. No, it is not for a permanently appointed position, but still, the city proves to be a very attractive employer even then. 

We are given an envelope with a number on it. Nowhere is our name allowed on it, to avoid the jury favouring anyone. Only at the signal are we allowed to open the envelope and get to work. I am glad I checked in advance who is a member of the city council, they also ask about that. With scenarios, they examine how you would react in certain situations.

I return home feeling good. Although I am a bit worried, I had not expected such a large turnout for two jobs, so there is a lot of competition. 

A little later, an invitation for a job interview arrives in my letterbox. Yep, I'm one step closer to a job. Not just any job, but one I really want. After a while of muddling through and studying again, I'm really ready. 

At a long table in front of me sits the jury, which is formed by the neighbourhood surveillance coordinator and a few others, who I don't really know who they are. Yes, they introduced themselves, but due to my nervousness I didn't really register it. Right behind me is someone from the union to check if everything is fair. This person is only allowed to observe, not actively participate in the conversation. Later, I will sometimes take up this task as a union representative. 

August 1998

Hooray, I have been selected. I am one of the lucky ones. I can start work from September. What is a bit unexpected, at the job interview they told me, that should I qualify, they would put me a bit further down the list. That way, it would take at least another year to start working as a neighbourhood supervisor. That way, I could continue to focus on my studies first. 

The first selected applicants choose not to join the city, so it would be my turn much sooner. So the moment I start my final year of Graduate Orthopedagogy, I can start working for 'the city'. I only have to go to class on Fridays, I get the opportunity to start 4/5th which allows me to combine both.

Additional advantage, for the course this also counts as an internship. Because this final year of study, I have to do 400 hours of internship. 

I am very happy, after years of unemployment I finally have a paid job. In previous years, I combined my studies with voluntary work. The first year at the JAC. The past two years at 'De Halm' a residential operation of the Protestant Social Centre. It certainly gave me satisfaction, made sure I no longer felt useless, could contribute something to society. Because being unemployed is not for fun. That's not an extended holiday. Due to all kinds of circumstances, I was not interesting for both the labour market and the VDAB. Something that is now changing.  

It's employment at 'D-level', which means my pay is not much higher than unemployment benefit. But I don't mind that. I am very happy to be gainfully employed. 

Once I have my degree, I can move on to a better-paid job. But that's for later. I am really looking forward to it, I think job satisfaction is more important than pay. During interim work, I met too many people who came to work every day thickly against their will. I don't want to do that to myself. 

September 1998

Getting to work! I feel right at home.  Some colleagues I've known for a while, which helps. It's a nice gang, there's a very nice atmosphere. For the first time in my life, I put on a uniform. With a tie! Something that was the subject of some discussion in terms of safety. After a while, we are given a tie with an elastic band; if they pull it, it won't close your windpipe. Additional advantage, you don't have to re-tie it every time. 

I will leave open whether the colour green suits me. It differentiates us from police. Although, in many other European countries, police have green uniforms. Not everyone realises that we are neighbourhood surveillance officers, a force with a mainly socially preventive mission. 

Some of the neighbourhood surveillance officers remember me from court. Just when I had to answer to them for noise nuisance, the neighbourhood surveillance officers came on a working visit. I was working in a youth house then. So there was a noise nuisance complaint due to a lack of isolation and the fact that a block of flats was put next door at one point.

So yes, when they saw me the first working day it did give some hilarity! 

On to district Borgerhout

After first exploring the various sectors with colleagues, I am paired with one of the ancients. I join him in the Borgerhout district.  Pretty soon I discover that working there is actually quite boring. During the day, we don't meet that many people there. Most are at school or at work. On days off, we mainly get complaints about children playing football in the street, well, where else should they do it? There is not that much open space.

I learn a lot, an advantage when you go out every working day with one of the first neighbourhood surveillance officers ever. 

Omega 11

Finally, a 'proper' sector. After a few months in district Borgerhout, a sector in district Antwerp North becomes vacant. Nobody is eager to get to work there. Except one person...yep: yours truly.

I did an internship there the years before, so I know that neighbourhood quite well. I'm also looking forward to starting work in a more lively neighbourhood. Most colleagues know that it's hard work there at times, that you don't always have nice contacts there. Something that doesn't put me off. It will run like a thread through the next 25 years, doing jobs that people don't really queue up for. 

The first day out in 'my' district I take the walkie talkie: "Omega 11, radio check". From now on, every working day will start like this. We are connected to the traffic police radio room. Should things get out of hand, we can call for assistance that way. Something that fortunately hardly ever happens. I soon learn that you have to be able to hold your own verbally. Not in a coercive way. No, with a lot of empathy, good listening and helping to find solutions. 

I notice that when changing in the dressing room, I regularly hear comments and complaints that never come up during briefings. When I suggest putting such issues on the table with the briefing, I invariably hear that people don't dare, fearing resignation. Answering that an employer cannot fire you when you kindly and politely make critical remarks and suggestions does not seem to have much effect. While some comments really do make sense and it would be good to discuss them.

Some things also go wrong, the relationship with the departmental management is not always good. In other departments, we are regularly not accepted, considered lesser. Shut up and execute...we have to. 

The union man

I decide to stand as a union delegate. To show with the briefings to my colleagues that you really can discuss things. It will be some turbulent years. Gradually, more neighbourhood supervisors are unionising. Unfortunately, not all of them belong to ACOD (the socialist union), but better syndicated than not at all, so I don't bother. As a delegate, I try to cooperate as much as possible, regardless of which union they join. Unfortunately, that doesn't always seem to work. 

The golden team of Antwerp North

No, the district of Antwerp North is not popular, so it initially fails to go out with a regular colleague. Until new neighbourhood surveillance officers join. From then on, I form a duo with M. For her, it's been a while since she's had paid work. Well, she has worked hard, as a housewife. Her husband is with the Antwerp fire brigade. She has three pubescent children at home. She now has time to go into paid work herself. 

M comes from a very different world. She has a different background. For a long time, her life took place outside the city, in a more rural district. Antwerp North and its very specific diverse character is new to her. I enjoy guiding her through it.

I must also admit that I feel more comfortable with a woman as a regular colleague. Adding extra testosterone doesn't seem conducive.

So we complement each other perfectly. Pretty soon we are a known duo in the neighbourhood. We probably look rather oily, too. A big sturdy young guy and a smaller woman. 

We also both look forward to swapping our sector for the Grand Place during Christmas, where we oversee the ice skating rink and the stalls around it.

Except at Christmas, when M doesn't have time. Then she takes a few days' holiday, is in the kitchen every day preparing the Christmas dinner. She goes all out for a successful Christmas. 

The three of them?

The peace gets a little "disturbed", extra testosterone comes in. Although I don't want to exaggerate at all. A is not at all a tough muscular wardrobe with too many hormones (neither am I, by the way, hehe), but like myself a young guy. He too studied for a social degree.  And social he certainly is. He too prefers the hustle and bustle of Antwerp North. You shouldn't put him somewhere where there is little buzz. There is more than enough work in the Omega 11 sector. 

I do feel that he prefers his own sector. He senses that I don't want to give up 'mine'. It is sometimes submerged, but never really problematic. All three of us get along well. 

Rubbish, litter and dog shit

That largely sums it up. That's where most of our time goes. Passing on to city cleaning where they can pick it up and a lot of awareness building. There is a high turnover in the neighbourhood, those who can leave usually do so. It is a transit neighbourhood with many nationalities. Offering your rubbish correctly is not really a priority of a large part of the residents there. For many there, it is a struggle to survive on a daily basis. Struggling to cover ends, trying to stay upright and dealing with your daily demons. There is a lot of misery. 

Still, it is incredible to see how people find the strength to carry on, to pursue happiness. Something that not everyone manages to do. But that is what we are there for, awareness-raising trying to keep living together in a boiling neighbourhood possible and pleasant for everyone. Sometimes with a lot of sign language, because Flemish is not equally accessible to everyone. 

Behind that rawness, there is also a lot of beauty. People who dedicate themselves unpaid to their neighbourhood every day. In the community centre, the mosque, the church or for their street. People who refuse to leave, who turn out to be street volunteers and keep an entire street or neighbourhood clean and bring people together. Or who find comfort and recognition with each other over a cup of coffee at the weekly Open House moments. Residents who set up a food bank to help the less fortunate among them with some fresh food every week.  Small things, yet making a big difference. Something I watch daily from the front row. Somehow it gives me hope, besides the rawness and contradictions in politics, I see people who rise above it daily. 

You have now been introduced to my first years with 'the city'. A very exciting, at times intense, but above all rewarding, time followed. I did things I didn't think possible beforehand, jumped into a black hole several times. Something that always ended well. So this simple guy went through a very unique and fascinating professional life. 

No, I am not retiring (yet), will stay with the city for a while. The story is certainly not finished yet. Soon, my career will take a new turn.

But that, and what all preceded it, is for later.