Introduction
While on my cross-cultural trip to the Netherlands, I got the unique experience of meeting with several community organizations working to better the lives of children, women and refugees. Below are the organizations visited and their story of impact with the population(s) served.
Humanity House
Humanity House is located in Den Hague. Humanity House seeks to “raise discussion about humanitarian themes to enhance understanding, inspiring people to contribute positively to a life in peace and freedom for everybody.“ They do this through a simulation experience of what it’s like to be a refugee. They also have temporary exhibits that examine the humanitarian issues such as conflict, disaster, food and water insecurity and host educational programs for the public. They seek to provide stories from human to human in order to evoke interest in humanitarian issues, for example when we visited they did this through interactive video stories of migrant and refugees. They also wish to provide a platform to discuss global issues with children and young adults to raise awareness and action from a young age. They currently have 10 staff members and are primarily funded through the Red Cross and Den Hague Municipality.
International Women's Center
Opening its doors in 1985, the International Women’s Center is “for the integration, participation and emancipation of migrant women in Den Helder.” International Women’s Center (IVC) has many course and activtity opportunites for women to be apart of ranging from cycling, intercultural meetings and Dutch conversational skills. IVC also provides opportunities for women to develop educational and employment skills and will match participants with potential opportunities in their field. IVC operates off the following 6 visionary objectives:
The IVC organizes courses, activities and projects to assist women in the integration, participation, emancipation, and awareness-raising process in Helderse society.
The IVC organizes activities and projects to remove part of the prejudices between different migrant groups (mutual) and the indigenous people. Mutual integration.
The IVC has a signaling function in the areas of:
- women's problems
- the welfare of the participants
- domestic and honor related violence
The IVC works with other organizations and institutions to form a network. The results of the cooperation bring benefits to the participants of the IVC (and the participants of the other organizations).
The IVC is aiming at the women after completing courses at the IVC, to accompany a subsequent course, either training or work.
The IVC has a Cultural Translation Department. This department provides a major contribution to the interruption of language barriers between rescuers and migrants. In addition, the department gives lectures to assistants on various subjects. Transfer of expertise. ( from IVC website)
When we met with IVC they made it very clear that their goal is to empower women toward personal goals by asking each woman who enters the door what she wants to do with her life. From there they aid women in developing a personal plan tailored towards building their dreams in reality. IVC utilizes safe practices through arts, sports and the “Express Yourself” curriculum. They currently represent 50 countries, 60 volunteers and 2 staff. In 2017, IVC was awarded with “the Best Practice in Europe 2017” by the European Education for Adults.
The IVC organizes courses, activities and projects to assist women in the integration, participation, emancipation, and awareness-raising process in Helderse society.
The IVC organizes activities and projects to remove part of the prejudices between different migrant groups (mutual) and the indigenous people. Mutual integration.
The IVC has a signaling function in the areas of:
- women's problems
- the welfare of the participants
- domestic and honor related violence
The IVC works with other organizations and institutions to form a network. The results of the cooperation bring benefits to the participants of the IVC (and the participants of the other organizations).
The IVC is aiming at the women after completing courses at the IVC, to accompany a subsequent course, either training or work.
The IVC has a Cultural Translation Department. This department provides a major contribution to the interruption of language barriers between rescuers and migrants. In addition, the department gives lectures to assistants on various subjects. Transfer of expertise. ( from IVC website)
When we met with IVC they made it very clear that their goal is to empower women toward personal goals by asking each woman who enters the door what she wants to do with her life. From there they aid women in developing a personal plan tailored towards building their dreams in reality. IVC utilizes safe practices through arts, sports and the “Express Yourself” curriculum. They currently represent 50 countries, 60 volunteers and 2 staff. In 2017, IVC was awarded with “the Best Practice in Europe 2017” by the European Education for Adults.
Parlan
Parlan is a youth organization in North Holland providing aid to young people and educational programming for families and people who work with youth. They also provide foster care, annual care and counseling for 6,000 young people and their families. Currently Parlan employs 850 professionals.Parlan’s services can be divided into the following categories:
- Ambulant: help in the home, childcare or school situation.
- Day care: Support that takes several days a week. Sometimes this happens at a location of Parlan, but mostly in childcare, at school and at home.
- Stay & Treatment: (partially) live and treat in a different place from home.
Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers’
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers’ (COA) mission is “ensure in a professional manner that people in a vulnerable position are accommodated and supported in a safe and liveable environment in a manner that ensures that the reception of aliens remains controllable for politicians and society and enables us to give account for our acts.” In their responsibility is the reception, supervision and departure of each participant. COA is an independent administrative entitiy of the Ministry of Justice and Security in the Netherlands.
While in the Netherlands, we visited COA Den Helder-Doggershoeck. This facility was transformed in 2015 from a youth detention center to a center that welcomes asylum seekers. It currently can house up to 575 occupants and in early 2018 hopes to open occupancy to single adults. We also visited COA Amsterdam Wenckebachweg. This location was also a former prison and was opened as a COA in 2016. It can house up to 1,000 occupants.
While in the Netherlands, we visited COA Den Helder-Doggershoeck. This facility was transformed in 2015 from a youth detention center to a center that welcomes asylum seekers. It currently can house up to 575 occupants and in early 2018 hopes to open occupancy to single adults. We also visited COA Amsterdam Wenckebachweg. This location was also a former prison and was opened as a COA in 2016. It can house up to 1,000 occupants.
Movement on the Ground
Movement on the Ground’s mission is to “examine a situation and identifies where needs are not being met during a humanitarian crisis. We aim to fill these needs by activating our network of logistic, financial and structural partners to provide assistance.”
Movement on the Ground has a few interactive ways for involvement and awareness of humanitarian needs. One being a hotel, restaurant and coffee shop that was once a prison where guests can come and stay while supporting a business that completely run by refugees, called the Refugee Company. Refugee Company seeks to quicken the process of integration by providing work experiences that utilize the strengths a refugee already has.
Movement on the Ground has a few interactive ways for involvement and awareness of humanitarian needs. One being a hotel, restaurant and coffee shop that was once a prison where guests can come and stay while supporting a business that completely run by refugees, called the Refugee Company. Refugee Company seeks to quicken the process of integration by providing work experiences that utilize the strengths a refugee already has.
We Are Here
We Are Here is a group of undocumented refugees who have not received asylum and because of this cannot work and are often forced to become homeless. However, We Are Here is committed to making the plight of this particular group of refugees visible. They have been around for four years and have already helped 100 people receive asylum. Currently they have three locations across Amsterdam with 250 occupants.
We met with Khalid, a key organizer of this project. He has been in the Netherlands for 16 years after fleeing his native Sudan as a teenager. He has yet to receive asylum after countless attempts. He expressed that many undocumented refugees experience dehumanization because of their skin color and status but that they (and he) would have loved to receive the treatment Syrian refugees are given.
References
Homepage. (n.d.). Why we do this. Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://www.humanityhouse.org/en/about-us/why-we-do-this/
Homepage. (2017, October 25). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdanrfLHn-g
Homepage. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://www.ivcdenhelder.nl/
Parlan Jeugdhulp in Noord-Holland. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://www.parlan.nl/home/
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://www.coa.nl/en
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://movementontheground.com/
OVER ONS / ABOUT US:. (2017, April 09). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://wijzijnhier.org/who-we-are/
R. (2015, March 30). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3dGvO8w3uQ
(n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://vince.eucen.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ivc-1.jpgHttps://www.parlan.nl/media/prod/063f0a7e72ca702d9dee84b1727cf51a_9ffac86625ba35896001bbf6c00ad466.png. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2017.