Building a future together for young adult asylum seekers
-
Vision
SAWA believes in a world in which everyone’s talents, abilities and worth are seen and recognised. Like any other young person, young adults in the asylum procedure deserve the chance to develop themselves, to take part and to make a meaningful contribution to society. Through activities that connect and bring these young people together, and in which we offer them recognition, trust and support, we form a bridge to Dutch society. In this way, together we build an inclusive community in which everyone gets the chance to grow freely.
-
Community
Trust
Resilience
Self-confidence
Network
Prospects
-
MISSION
In the Netherlands, young adult asylum seekers in (emergency) reception centres are generally left to fend for themselves from their 18th birthday. Because all guidance falls away, they face life alone from a very young age - and in some cases in a vulnerable position. Without family and a reliable network, they receive too little support and confidence to find their way in society: support with education, work, health, housing, income and social connections.
Through activities that connect people, SAWA creates a community where young asylum seekers feel seen and heard, and can regain a little ownership within the ever tighter restrictions and longer waiting times of the asylum procedure. Together with them, we organise activities and outings in the city, so they can get to know Dutch society in an informal way, make friends, regain (self-)confidence and build a network. Meeting people, making connections, autonomy, a sense of purpose and relaxation are essential at this stage to process trauma and to face an uncertain future with resilience and confidence. -
- Background
In 2022 the Dutch Children’s Ombudsman published the report ‘Alleen volwassen worden’ (Growing up alone), which confirms how young asylum seekers are left to fend for themselves as soon as they turn eighteen. An article in the newspaper NRC also raised concerns that ‘guidance and youth care end at the age of eighteen, while the asylum seekers still need them.’ The research also underlines how important it is to have prospects for the future. As one care worker in the study put it: ‘Supervisors think about rules, but that is not the most important thing. These young people need hope, prospects and dreams, otherwise their self-confidence drains away.’
In spring 2022 the COA (the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers) asked us whether we could set up a programme for these 18+ young people in the emergency shelter at the A&O hostel in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Since April 2022 (at first under the wing of the IMC Weekendschool foundation) we have run a weekly programme for these young people, with the aim of activating them, building a community and introducing them to Dutch society. Since September 2024 we have continued these activities as the SAWA Collective foundation.
- Team
SAWA’s core team consists of Marie-José van Schaik and Anouk Tijnagel, who are responsible for managing and running the organisation.
Our foundation is supported by a supervisory board, which makes sure that we have the most positive impact possible on the lives of young adults in the asylum procedure, while we grow the foundation in a responsible way.
Supervisory Board:
Marieke Struijk van Bergen
Imen El Amouri
Mick Roché
The Supervisory Board receives no payment for its work for the foundation.
Chamber of Commerce (KvK): 94150907
RSIN: 866655189
Ownership
Synergy
Inclusion
Fun
Lived experience
Friendship
- Youth council
SAWA means “together” in Arabic, “happiness” in Bambara and “equal” in Swahili. This is our starting point. We see the value and importance of lived experience, so involving the young people in our programme, policy and strategy goes without saying.
To organise this well, we have a youth council that gives us advice, both when we ask for it and when we don’t, and helps us think about how we shape SAWA Collective together. The young people on the youth council are the seniors of the group and play a key role within the communities. Four times a year we meet with the youth council to discuss the most important action points for that quarter.
