Hi, I recently moved to the Netherlands to live with my boyfriend. I have to wait 3-6 months before I am legally able to work, therefore, I have been trying to find a voluntary position. It is proving to be more difficult than I expected. I would like something in an NGO or organization focusing on development, education or migration issues. I have seven years of experience working with refugees and asylum seekers as well as an MA in International Development and Education. I am looking for something in the Hague and/or Rotterdam, Amsterdam is out of the question for now. Oh, and I don't speak Dutch. Any ideas? Many of the organizations that I contacted don't take volunteers... I am stumped..
1
cecilia
How about a 'Voedselbank' (sort of a soup kitchen)?
This may help you find some things through Google.
Volunteer work = vrijwilligerswerk
www.vrijwilligerscentrale.nu</a> = a database of volunteer work (you live in the province of Zuid-Holland)
As far as I know organisations like Warchild, Amnesty International all thrive on volunteers. I'd be surprised if NGO's like Oxfam, Cordaid etc. in The Hague did not take volunteers. I don't know about not speaking Dutch though...
2
ribeira_sacra
For local inwoners programmes look here for Rotterdam
http://www.lsabewoners.nl/main.php?m_in_l=steden&stid=24&stad=Rotterdam&page=2
or Den Haag.
http://www.lsabewoners.nl/main.php?m_in_l=steden&stid=8&stad=Den+Haag&page=2
or here for the whole country.
http://www.vrijwilligerscentrale.nl/
http://www.lsabewoners.nl/
All the websites are in Dutch but someone will be able to speak English when you contact the stichtingen.
4
lagatta
Good luck, but please also take the opportunity to do a Dutch course while you are in job limbo. I think it would be a lot easier to learn Dutch outside Amsterdam, where everyone and their bicycle seem to speak English.
5
flyingdutchgirl
Don't forget to contact asylum seeker's centres directly; they are always short of volunteers and more than happy with helping hands. I volunteered there for about three months in child daycare and had a great time.
6
minimi
You could try the Refugee department (afdeling Vluchtelingen) at Amnesty International. Otherwise, maybe you can try the headoffice of the Dutch Refugee Council (VVN): www.vluchtelingenwerk.nl. Both are located in Amsterdam, though.
However, the Dutch Refugee Council also has people working in the local Asylum Seeker's Centers (Asielzoekerscentrum: AZC). And most of the larger cities have quite a large VVN-department themselves, so it might be worth your while to call them.
Good luck!
7
isisrakel
Looking for Voluntary work for 3-6 months in The Hague or Rotterdam ..
Is this still open..? I would like to volunteer.
8
minimi
#7: if you are not the OP, it's better to start your own thread and re-ask the question, if the information on this thread is not enough for you. I'd advise you to be a bit more specific in your post though (what area do you want to volunteer in, do you have any special skills, what languages do you speak, are you allowed to reside & work in the Netherlands (volunteer work can - under circumstances - also be considered 'work'),
Pro tip
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