Main objective:

To improve the position of unaccompanied minors and young adult asylum seekers (until age 25) in society and stimulate their participation and integration in society. In the case of asylum seekers with a negative decision on their request for asylum and facing removal, SAMAH gives support and helps to reflect and organise returnee options and reintegration, mostly in the country of origin. To this end, SAMAH works with eight paid staff members, several hundred volunteers across the country, including many young asylum seekers.

Involving the volunteers

SAMAH recruits young people through the refugee centres or through welfare institutions which look after the young refugees. Many of the young refugees start to volunteer for SAMAH in different projects. In addition, SAMAH has stimulated the setting up of self-organisations through the national AMA-Council (AMA stands for unaccompanied minor), which represents the interests of the young refugees. There were about 40 volunteers involved in the AMA-Council with an outreach to around 300 young refugees in the country.

Activities: SAMAH operates a national helpdesk for young refugees and social workers. They stimulate networking and develop volunteer projects with the young people such as:

• a sports project stimulating young people to get involved in sports, coach teams and volunteer for the sports association. In addition, training is offered with the idea, that in the case of removal, the returnees might develop a professional perspective at home through the international contacts of the Dutch sports associations.
•  Buddy Project, a project which twinned up young Dutch people from non-immigrant background with young refugees in order to help them understand the Dutch society and integrate easier.
• Girls active: a project to stimulate young girls, some of them single raising mothers, to volunteer;
• Beyond Borders, a project set up together with young refugees in order to develop perspectives for potential returnees. Co-operation is sought with companies, schools and individuals to sponsor training and the setting up of job opportunities in the country of origin.
•  And more  

Results of the work  -  contribution to integration

The young volunteers start to learn Dutch, develop more self-confidence, a more positive idea about the Netherlands and start developing plans and perspectives on education and work in the Netherlands. Through the various volunteer activities they get in touch with Dutch institutions, make friends, and slowly become more self-reliant. At the same time they are prepared for life after a potential turning down of their asylum request in which case, the skills they have acquired through volunteering may help them in their country of origin.

Challenges:

For the young refugees: living with the threat of removal and detention. Several hundred are currently in detention and many end up traumatised after repeated and disrupted deportation attempts (owing to the absence of the necessary laissez passer papers at the airport).

For SAMAH: An increasing number of young people become illegal, homeless and then tend to disappear out of sight. Volunteer organisations will not take them any more as volunteers owing to insurance problems and the concern to get in troubles with authorities. The organisation has to work with limited means on many issues, varying from giving personal help to political lobby and project design. Sustainability of projects is often difficult owing to short term funding.