'Working with machines, I wanted that too!'

Kiyan Hergaarden (20) has been working at Werkse for three years! In the Green & Environment department. He’s having a great time there. He prefers to be behind the wheel of a company car, on his way to a job in the city.

Already at the age of 17, Kiyan joined Werkse! as an intern. After a while at the Assembly department, it soon started to itch. ‘It was too busy there with too many incentives for me.’ He heard from friends that it was fun at the Green & Environment department and was quite jealous of them: ‘Nice working with machines, I wanted that too! Then I asked my school for a transfer and they liked that. I have been working in the green for three years now.

Garbage cans
As far as Kiyan is concerned, he is completely in his place. He likes the work in the city the most. ‘You come somewhere again, have a chat with passers-by, that’s fun.’ With his driver’s license in his pocket, he then drives the company car and a colleague into Delft. There they remove litter, collect garbage from the canals, change the garbage cans and solve complaints from residents. ‘Complaints are usually about litter. Then there has been another group of seagulls that have left a huge mess. Then you’ll spend half an hour cleaning up.’

Earn money
‘Work is quite important to me,’ says Kiyan. ‘It ensures that I can buy things, that I can pay the rent and I can pay for my hobbies.’ But he also likes having colleagues with whom he can get along well. For example, he works pleasantly with his work buddy Kadèr: ‘He is ten years older, but that doesn’t matter. We understand each other and complement each other well. It’s always fun to work with him. We’re serious about that, even though we have a lot of fun together. The work must be done well and carefully. There are never any complaints about our work.’

Trailer driver’s license
Kiyan has quickly obtained the necessary VCA basic diploma, demonstrating that he can work safely, responsibly and environmentally friendly and can handle hazardous substances. And he learned to work with numerous machines: ‘I operate the motorized brush cutter – you can drive it if you have a driver’s license. But I can also shave, blow leaves, lace stitches, I can operate almost all machines. What I still want to get is the trailer driver’s license. I haven’t applied for it yet, but it will come soon.’ Quite possibly he will get a saw diploma in the future, but at the moment sawing does not appeal to him directly.

Transport or freight company
For Kiyan, it is ideal to repeat the same work many times, preferably on the company car. ‘I get restless when I’m always asked for something else. What I like is being assigned a neighborhood every day to put things in order there. Emptying trash cans, green maintenance, removing litter, cleaning aists and gates, that kind of work.’ Someday he will want to go to another employer: ‘I don’t want forty years at Werkse! I am still young, and I still have many opportunities. I like to be behind the wheel, I don’t necessarily have to work in the green. I think it would be nice to get my truck driver’s license and then work for a transport company.