ICPTR

Adriaan joined the research group with an interest in youth ethnic minorities and integration in the Dutch society. Born in Leeuwarden, Fryslân / Netherlands, (1956) Adriaan Kolen developed an interest in intercultural exchange at a young age. As a 17 year old youth he joined the AFS intercultural exchange program, which enables people to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding in a diverse world. Living in California he started a never ending quest for bridging cultural gaps. Next to an intercultural marriage, this led to many activities, privately and professionally. For many years he presided over the local AFS chapter in his home state, thus enabling many others to engage in intercultural experiences all over the world. Becoming an experienced traveller over the years, Adriaan constantly looks for ways to combine his passion and daily routine. A deep rooted interest in languages helped him to achieve teaching degrees in Dutch, German and DSL (Dutch as a second language). The latter enabled him to engage professionally in contacts with adult students from many different cultural backgrounds.

As a policy advisor for his local municipality, he started an integrated policy program for ethnic minority groups.

Engaging in interreligious dialogue was another activity he devoted himself to. This led through the years to many interesting encounters with representatives of worldreligions. In many fields he was able to combine his professional activities with his interest in working with people from different cultural backgrounds. Next to the field of education, Adriaan worked for an agency offering unemployed adults new perspectives on the labourmarket. For the national job-centre he held a staffposition advising on diversity issues. This in turn led to an invitation to work ( as the only male employee) at a government supported foundation for womens emancipation. Here he took up projects to further diversity management , combining his knowledge and contacts in the fields of education, business and non-profit organisations. In one of the dutch refugee-camps Adriaan managed a staff of 14 teachers in a school for adult students.

As a coach and teacher he is currently working at a college to assist teenagers finding their way in vocational studies and connecting to future careers.