Utrecht honors couple for decades of support to undocumented asylum seekers
Joke de Jongh and Peter Kretschmar, a retired couple from Utrecht, have been awarded the Utrecht City Spoon for their 20-year dedication to helping undocumented asylum seekers. Their work provided legal and medical support to vulnerable individuals, many without income or government assistance.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Awardees | Joke de Jongh (1950) and Peter Kretschmar (1939) |
| Award | Utrecht City Spoon |
| Presented by | Deputy Mayor Rik van der Graaf |
| Organization | Foundation for Foreigners Services (SDB), part of Utrecht City Council of Churches |
| Duration of Service | 2004–2026 (22 years) |
| Target Group | Undocumented asylum seekers from Sudan, Eritrea, Guinea |
| Support Provided | Legal assistance, medical referrals, housing stability |
| Reason for Retirement | Advanced age; no successors |
| Foundation Status | Dissolved after their departure |
The Municipality of Utrecht plays a role in recognizing local citizens who contribute significantly to social causes through awards like the Utrecht City Spoon. The Foundation for Foreigners Services (SDB) operated under the Utrecht City Council of Churches, addressing gaps in support for undocumented individuals.
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Read the full translated article below
Urban distinction for Joke de Jongh and Peter Kretschmar
The couple Joke de Jongh (1950) and Peter Kretschmar (1939) have received the Utrecht City Spoon from Deputy Mayor Rik van der Graaf. The municipal distinction was awarded on Tuesday, March 17, during their farewell from the Foundation for Foreigners Services (SDB).
Since 2004, Joke de Jongh and Peter Kretschmar have been dedicated to the Foundation for Foreigners Services (SDB), a working group of the Utrecht City Council of Churches (USRK). They supported (former) asylum seekers who had been rejected or were in an appeal process, often without income or government support. This involved a vulnerable group of undocumented individuals from Sudan, Eritrea, and Guinea. In addition to legal assistance, the foundation also helped find a more stable living environment.
Peter Kretschmar, a lawyer, and Joke de Jongh used their combined expertise to advise clients legally, prepare files, and guide them until a specialized lawyer could be engaged. Many clients no longer had identity documents and were virtually helpless in the regular asylum procedure. Joke de Jongh sought essential personal data, while Peter Kretschmar looked for legal openings within immigration law.
Additionally, Joke de Jongh guided clients to immigration lawyers, general practitioners, and other healthcare providers. Contact with healthcare providers was important because medical information could sometimes be decisive in procedures. For years, Peter Kretschmar volunteered in the consultation of service providers within the chain of workers for the undocumented.
Due to their advanced age, Joke de Jongh and Peter Kretschmar are now ending their work. With no successors to take over from the couple, the foundation has since been dissolved.
The Utrecht City Spoon has been awarded by the municipal government since 1985 to individuals who have made exceptional local contributions to Utrecht in religious, cultural, social, societal, or sporting fields.