Building a perspective for young adult asylum seekers together
Vision
SAWA believes in a world where everyone's talents, abilities, and value are seen and recognized. Like any other young person, young adults in the asylum process deserve the opportunity for self-development, participation and a meaningful contribution to society. Through connecting activities that bring these young people together, and in which we offer them recognition, trust and support, we form a bridge to Dutch society. This is how we build an inclusive community together where everyone has the opportunity to develop freely.
Community
trusting
Resilience
Confidence
Network
Perspective
MISSION
Young adult asylum seekers in (emergency) reception locations in the Netherlands are generally left to fend for themselves from the age of 18. Because all guidance is missing, they are alone - and in some cases vulnerable - from a very early age. Due to the lack of family and a reliable network, they receive insufficient support and trust to find their way in society. Think of support for education, work, health, housing, income and social connection.
Through connecting activities, we create a community with SAWA where young asylum seekers feel seen, heard and can once again feel a bit of ownership within the increasingly sharp restrictions and longer waiting times of the asylum procedure. Together with them, we organize activities and take outings in the city to informally get to know Dutch society, build friendships, regain (self) trust and build a network. Meeting, connecting, autonomy, meaning and relaxation are fundamental in this phase to process trauma and face the uncertain future with resilience and confidence.
- Background
In 2022, the Children's Ombudsman published the report “Growing up alone', that confirms how young asylum seekers are left to fend for themselves when they turn eighteen. There was also an article in the NRC expressing concerns that “guidance and youth care expire at the age of eighteen, while asylum seekers still need it.” The research also underlines the importance of a future perspective. A counselor in the study: “Counselors think about rules, but that's not the most important thing. These young people need hope, perspective and dreams, otherwise self-confidence will run away.
In the spring of 2022, the COA asked us if we could set up a program for these 18+ young people in the emergency shelter at the A&O hostel in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Since April 2022, we (previously under the wing of the IMC Weekend School Foundation) have started a weekly program 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 under the SAWA Collective Foundation.
- Team
SAWA's core team consists of Marie-José van Schaik and Anouk Tijnagel, responsible for the organization's governance and execution.
Our foundation is supported by a supervisory board, which ensures that we make the most positive impact possible in the lives of young adults during the asylum process, while allowing the foundation to grow responsibly.
Supervisory Board:
Marieke Struijk van Bergen
Majed Hussein
Mick Roche
De RvT ontvangt geen beloning voor haar werkzaamheden voor de stichting.
KvK: 94150907
RSIN: 866655189
proprietorship
Synergy
Inclusion
Fun
Experiential expertise
Amity
- 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 and involving young people in our program, offer, policy and strategy is therefore self-evident.
To organise this properly, we have a youth council that provides us with solicited and unsolicited advice and defines important input into how we shape SAWA Collective together. The young people in the youth council are the seniors of the group and have an important key role within the communities. Four times a year, we meet with the youth council to discuss the important action points for that quarter.
