In 2005 the Dutch government appeals to social organizations to propose ideas to stick together to approve the social cohesion in the communities of the cities.
The background is the tendency in the society, where people have less confidence in each other, where they are not open to other groups and where the climate hardens.

One of these social organisations is LSA, a national union of deprived neighbourhoods. Together with housing associations it started the project “CAN DO”.

The project CAN DO uses the ABCD strategy, Asset Based Community Development. This is not problem related, but it stimulates the capacity and knowledge of inhabitants themselves. It uses the opportunities and means available in the neighbourhood. So it stimulates active citizenship and personal initiatives.

CAN DO started in England in 2003, and had much success in financing and supporting initiatives.

In the Netherlands a pilot project started in 2006 : in 15 cities within 15 month 12 community based initiatives of the inhabitants themselves will be realized with financial and personal support.
In every city operates a community coach.
The inhabitant who has an idea goes to the community coach.