An opportunity for your organization: internationals as volunteers

As many as 15 percent of the residents of Amsterdam have a nationality other than Dutch. Many of them are so-called internationals (or expats): students or people working at an international company and their partners. They come from within and outside the EU and typically stay in Amsterdam for an average of two years.Volunteer Center Amsterdam sees many internationals during its consultation hours who are looking for volunteer work. They are entrepreneurial individuals, often highly educated, flexible, and easy to communicate with. They enjoy doing something meaningful for their community, using their talents and skills, and are eager to get to know the city and its culture better.However, they don’t always manage to get started quickly as volunteers. Why is that? And how can we ensure that this group can roll up their sleeves and put their skills to use at Amsterdam volunteer organizations? We exchange experiences and seek solutions with volunteer organizations at the big table at the office of Volunteer Central Amsterdam in Nieuw West.

Added value

Internationals often work at (large) international companies. They have knowledge and experience in the field of ICT, financial matters, legal matters, communication, marketing, and more. They look at Dutch culture with an open and curious mind, bringing diversity to your volunteer organization. With their entrepreneurial spirit, they are a valuable addition to an organization in development. They are eager to take on project responsibilities. They can act as ambassadors for your organization in their company, thus tapping into a new network.

Feeling that you can make a difference, together with others, that’s what it’s all about.

Maria, 36 years old, international from Cincinnati, Ohio

Obstacles

As mentioned, internationals find it difficult to find volunteer work. The English language, spoken well by internationals, is still a stumbling block for many organizations. Introducing, guiding, and training in the English language can sometimes keep volunteer coordinators awake at night. And sometimes fellow volunteers do not want or cannot communicate in English and do not make contact. Then you quickly feel excluded and unnecessary. We also hear that some internationals start enthusiastically and sometimes drop out because expectations are not properly aligned. The temporariness, on average two years, is also sometimes seen as difficult.

Solutions

• Communicate your expectations in advance, which tasks and activities can be done in English and which cannot. Discuss the tasks, schedules, and work culture.
• Adapt your way of communicating with these volunteers, but also set boundaries. For example, you can send personal emails in English, but not newsletters.
• Invest in diversity in your organization. Create an open culture where diversity, communication, and contact are natural.
• Invest in introductory activities and other bonding activities with your group of volunteers. For example, during lunch, organize an icebreaker game. Place cards with fun questions where you can talk in pairs or with your table. Especially in group volunteering, make sure to have introductory activities in addition to informing about tasks.
• Create buddy teams with Dutch and English-speaking volunteers from your organization. They can provide explanations, training, and facilitate communication among team members.

Concrete taken

Provide temporary, flexible volunteer work. Vloggers, photographers, movers and builders, social media tasks (creating templates, web design), videographers, filmmakers (create a corporate video), gardening team, translating flyers/websites into English, tasks at events, guided tours in English for museums, gardens, and exhibitions, musicians…

Job vacancy in English

Place job vacancies for internationals in English on [website].the job board of VCA.Do you want us to translate or proofread the job vacancy? We can do that! Send an email toamsterdam@vca.nu. Success guaranteed!

Brainstorm

Are you also brainstorming about the possibilities of internationals for your organization?Come to the brainstorm on December 10th.