This document announces a Refugee Academy meeting to discuss the impact of voluntary work on refugee integration in the Netherlands. Over 1.2 million refugees sought asylum in Europe in 2015, including 43,093 in the Netherlands. The arrival of many refugees has led to challenges in reception but also questions around how to facilitate integration. The meeting will examine how voluntary work can contribute to network building, language learning, mental health, self-development and access to the job market based on experiences of refugees and organizations involved in promoting voluntary work. A program is outlined that includes presentations on recent research and panels with refugees and organizations.

1. Voluntary work as a step towards integration?
Refugee Academy, with Peer Smets and Younes Younes
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.
Please subscribe here: https://www.formdesk.com/vuamsterdam/fsw-refugee-academy
Programme
15.00 -15.05: Welcome and introduction
15.05 -15.45: Presenting and discussing the research on voluntary work of asylum seekers and status
holders
With: Linda Bakker (Significant), Renee Bekkers (Vrije Universiteit), Marieke Stopel
(Pharos)
15.45 -16.30: Panel voluntary work by status holders, moderated by Younes Younes (VU)
With: Tesfay Godefa, Adnan Hasan, Mohammad Shabani, Yara Alassadi
16.30 -17.10: Panel organizatons involved in voluntary work of status holders, moderated by Peer
Smets (VU)
With: Marinka Dohmen (Yallah Foundation), Mohammed Badran (Syrian Volunteers
NL), Firoez Azarhoosh (Blauwe Huis), Ramon Schleijpen (Boost), Heleen Tieze (Voluntary
Work Center Nijmegen, to be confirmed)
17.10-17.30: Wrapping up by Halleh Ghorashi

2. 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.
16th of February 2018, 3pm – 5:30pm, Aurora room VU
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.