Voluntary work in Amsterdam
Whether you’re looking for a new challenge, a new skill or an opportunity to learn more about the local culture, volunteering is a great way to go. You get to actively engage with your local community and experience Amsterdam from a whole new angle while giving something back. And, it also looks great on your CV. If you’re interested in voluntary work and you are an English or non-Dutch speaker, then this is the guide for you.
Volunteer Amsterdam
2011 is the European Year of Volunteering. As part of the event, Amsterdam is launching the Voluntary Amsterdam (Vrijwillig Amsterdam) campaign which will see the City work together with volunteer organisations to shine a well-earned spotlight on volunteers and to encourage Amsterdammers to get involved in voluntary work.
The various opportunities available in voluntary work will be presented under the slogan ‘Voluntary work: good for you, good for the city’. One of the primary objectives of the Voluntary Amsterdam campaign is to show Amsterdammers that voluntary work can be multidimensional, interesting and enjoyable.
Voluntary work presents an endless list of opportunities, whether your interest lies in volunteering at a sports association, at cultural events, working with nature and animals, working together with youths, assisting the disabled or helping newcomers to the city find their feet. In order to effectively highlight all the various activities available within the voluntary sector, a different theme will be focused upon every month.
Amsterdam’s VCA volunteer centre
The VCA or Vrijwilligerscentrale Amsterdam is the main hub for volunteer work in the city, providing administration, advice and support for non-Dutch speakers and voluntary organisations. The service is currently offered at four locations: in the Centre, Noord, Zuidoost and Nieuw-West Districts of Amsterdam.
Volunteers can access over a 1000 different volunteering opportunities via the online vrijwilligersbank (vacancy bank) and by typing Anderstaligen, or at a branch. If you pop in store, you can ask to speak to an English-speaking advisor who will assist you with any questions regarding placements, regulations and rights. You will be matched with an interesting vacancy based on your skills and interests.
For more information, visit VCA.
Hart voor Amsterdam - Native Speaker Project
Hart voor Amsterdam is a non-profit organisation with years of experience in bringing businesses, government and social institutions together through a number of innovative programmes. Most recently the organisation introduced the volunteer scheme Native Speaker Project (NSP), which is aimed at low-income families and at-risk youth.
They are currently looking for fluent English speakers to work with at-risk students (12 to 13 years old) in low-income schools. The ultimate goal is to help students practice their English language skills, covering everyday subjects in preparation for their final exams. Volunteer hours are during the daytime and located in Amsterdam.
If you'd like to join the scheme, contact Hart voor Amsterdam.
Paid and unpaid voluntary work
Opportunities to use your English-language skills are as diverse as the placements themselves. Charity organisations, religious institutions, social institutions and non-profit organisations are always searching for volunteers. Here’s a few websites that offer both paid and non-paid vacancies:
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Nowhere - a cultural organisation for young people in Amsterdam
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Friends of the Earth - a national organisation dedicated to environmental issues
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Greenpeace Nederland - the largest environmental organisation in the world
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Amnesty International - focuses on humanity and human rights
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Markt - offers a list of volunteer opportunities from various organisations across the Netherlands.
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Laluz - a volunteer organisation aimed specifically at helping young professionals aged 25 to 40 share their expertise on a voluntary basis.
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Stichting Hip - a communication network offering volunteers suitable positions.
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World Wide Volunteering - a database covering 1000 voluntary organisations in 214 countries around the world .
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Amsterdam Cares - an Amsterdam-based organisation specialising in flexible voluntary work.
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De Slinger - a volunteer organisation focused on helping people to become more involved in the community.
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ACCESS - a non-profit organisation that lists English-speaking services for the international community including news of events, courses and a counseling referral service.
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Stichting Present - an organisation bringing volunteers into contact with people who require assistance.
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You can also reach us by phone:
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