Voluntary work as a step towards integration? This document announces a Refugee Academy meeting on February 16th from 3pm to 5:30pm in the Aurora room at VU Amsterdam. The meeting will look at how voluntary work can contribute to refugee integration in areas like network building, language learning, mental health, self-development, and access to the labor market. Insights will be shared from organizations involved in refugee voluntary work and from recent VU research. Interested parties should email Elena Ponzoni to attend and drinks and snacks will follow after the meeting.

1. 16th of February 2018, 3pm – 5:30pm, Aurora room VU
Voluntary work as a step towards integration?
Refugee Academy
In 2015 over 1.2 million refugees asked for an asylum status in Europe, and 43,093 of them
registered for an asylum request in the Netherlands (Dutch Council for Refugees, 2016). The
arrival of many refugees has led to challenges in reception, but triggered also questions
about how integration should be facilitated in Dutch society. Should early integration take
place within the AZC locations and could voluntary work potentially contribute? Initiatives
were employed in and outside AZC locations, but how voluntary work could contribute to
integration is still under discussion.
During this Refugee Academy meeting we look at the impact of voluntary work on for
example network building, learning the Dutch language, mental health, self- development
and access to the labour market. Therefore we will take into account the experiences of
residents of AZC locations and the experiences of organizations being involved in promoting
and organizing voluntary work. In addition, insights derived from recent research by
Significant and VU will be shared.
Interested? If you would like to come, please send an e-mail to Elena Ponzoni
(e.ponzoni@vu.nl). A link to subscribe will follow later.
Logistic information
The meeting will take place on the 16th
of February, from 3 to 5:30pm in the Aurora room at
the VU Amsterdam. After the meeting there will be time for informal exchange with drinks
and snacks.
For public transport directions to VU Amsterdam, please consult 9292.nl
To get to the Aurora room at VU Amsterdam, enter the main building (Hoofdgebouw) at the
main entrance. Turn right and walk passed the toilets. Then turn left and you will see the
entrance of the room on your left.