Workcamp Details

Description: The location of the project is the Refugee Centre Emmen. Emmen is a city of about 60.000 inhabitants in the province of Drenthe in the northern part of the Netherlands. This refugee centre (in Dutch: AZC Emmen) has a capacity for about 400 refugees. This particular place is a location for families with under age children whose application for asylum has been denied by the Dutch government. These families will in time return to their homeland. Our partner is the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (in Dutch: COA). The COA provides accommodation during the asylum procedure and prepares asylum seekers for staying in the Netherlands, returning to their country of origin or transmigration. At the moment COA manages about 100 centres in the Netherlands. COA is an independent administrative body funded by the Dutch Ministry of Justice. The COA works together with a partner named De Vrolijkheid: the National Foundation for the Promotion of Happiness. The Happiness is a multicultural, not-for-profit network of artists, play writers, actors, musicians and volunteers who invest in children and teenagers in asylum-seeking centres. The Happiness organises creative activities on a regular basis in 30 asylum-seeking centres in the Netherlands. Please note that it is not allowed to take pictures and/or make videos in the refugee centre.

Type of Work: The project takes place in the refugee centre in Emmen which is a location for families with children. The children you will be working with are between 4 and 12 years. These children participate in a school program, but during the months of July and August, there is the summer holiday break. The volunteers organise activities for and with the children. This type of work calls for creative people who can make up all sorts of games from scratch to play with the children: music, sports, arts, language sessions, creativity, etc. Therefore the content of this project is up to you and the other participants. The games are scheduled throughout the week.

Accommodation: The accommodation will be in a tent. You can either bring your own tent or use on of ours. In that case you will share a tent with one other volunteer. It s necessary to bring your own sleeping bag and sleeping math. There are cooking facilities in a cooking tent and the group will cook for themselves. The centre will provide bikes for every volunteer to ride between the campsite and the Refugee Centre (including bike ride lessons). Volunteers will bring a packed lunch to the worksite.

Language: eng,

Requirements: Participation of volunteers with disabilities is dependant, to be individually assessed on a case by case basis.Relevant training or professional experience in order to work with vulnerable children is desirable. It could be helpful to speak an intermediate level of English. The participation fee for this project is aO 50 for foreign volunteers and aO225 for participants living in the Netherlands. The participation fee should be paid in cash upon arrival. No preparation training is required for the participants.

Approximate Location: Of course there will be sufficient free time. Together with your camp leaders you will discuss the recreational program. Emmen is an attractive city with lots of activities in the summertime. You can visit places nearby and explore the surroundings. The area is declared a UNESCO-Geopark by the United Nations. Emmen is very well accessible by train and bus. Biggest attraction is the theme park Wildlands Adventure Zoo. Near the campingsite is also a earthwork from the Amercan artist Robert Smitson, Broken Circle and Spiral Hill(1971)

Camp Photographs