Students of the Open University (Vrije Universiteit, VU) can get free board in the Amsterdam neighborhoods of Osdorp and Slotervaart in return for helping Turkish and Moroccan children in integration.
Fred Jonker (27), anthropology student, shares a residence with another student in Osdorp. He doesn't pay rent since he volunteers for 'VoorUit' (forward).
He says he applies on an impulse. He's from Arnhem, where people think that it's better to stay away from 'problem neighborhoods' such as Osdorp and Slotervaart. He wanted to check whether that was true and above all, taking his studies into mind, wanted to get something of the multicultural society. When he heard he could get free board, he decided to sign up for the project.
Jonker thinks his test was successful. He sees the neighborhood in a positive light, there's fine living there and the people are pleasant. It feels like a village, everybody knows everybody and he doesn't feel unsafe at all. At the same time he says it's a nice opportunity to help immigrants find their place. He gives the children cooking lessons and help with homework, and use those experiences in this studies.
'VoorUit' has been ongoing since September of last year, and was set up by W&S Transition- en Interimmanagement from Amstelveen for their 25 year anniversary. Founder Karel Waagenaar says that they constantly hear about the problem with integration, but think that newcomers also have talents. In order to make the most of it, immigrants and ethnic Dutch must make an effort.
The project is therefore aimed at both parties. VU students organize all types of activities for Moroccan and Turkish children and get free board in exchange.
Student Adinda Boeren thinks it's a nice opportunity. She's doing her MA in management and organization sciences and coordinates VoorUit in Osdorp. She says people react in shock when she says she lives in Osdorp and ask if she can walk normally in the street. She says everything's great and she feels safe in the neighborhood.
Boeren says she's been enriched by coming to Osdorp. Before that she lived in Rivierenbuurt where she'd never seen an immigrant. When she now walks outside Turkish and Moroccan children ask if she's coming to play football and when she recently had over a group of kids for dinner one brought a bunch of tulips. She notices solidarity with such things.
The homework help and sports tournaments that Boeren organizes have a positive effect not only for the children. She says that she also gets to know the parents. Mothers greet her and the mutual contact has led to her now giving 8 fathers computer lessons.
Moroccan Anina Ait Elhamam thinks that 'VoorUit' works on several planes. Her children Gaula (11) and Zinedine (8) like to go to the activities organized by the students. She says she's very happy with the initiative. It's good for her children and ensures that they feel better connected. It's easy to stay in your own culture but that's not good, they must have contact with each other. And because she knows her children are safe and have fun with the students it makes her happy as a mother.
Source: Trouw (Dutch)
See also: Amsterdam: Lodgings for Muslim students, Amsterdam: Mecca of the Polder, Amsterdam: Moroccan-Born Mayor Dispenses Tough Love to Immigrants
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