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Community

With SAWA we build inclusive communities in which (young) asylum seekers feel seen, heard and welcome. Through activities that connect people and outings together, we create space for meeting others, having fun and growing. For a while, away from the restrictions and uncertainty of the asylum procedure, there is room to catch your breath, have new experiences and simply be young.

Together we discover the city and society, build friendships and strengthen self-confidence. From museum visits, cooking together and going out into nature to sports, art workshops, film projects, horse riding and concerts: what we offer is a mix of excursions, workshops, education and, above all, lots of meeting people and having fun.

It is precisely in the small, everyday moments that something big happens. Trust grows, new networks form and young people get the space to further develop their identity, find meaning and feel at home in a new place.

At the same time, we make the long wait in the asylum procedure more bearable and more meaningful. By countering isolation, apathy and chronic stress, we help protect young people’s mental well-being before problems arise. In this way we bring back connection, prospects and a sense of normality in a period that is often marked by standstill and uncertainty.

In all our activities we actively seek connection with the neighbourhood and the city. We bring young people and Amsterdammers together to truly get to know each other, break down prejudices and encourage mutual understanding. We build communities in which young people are not reduced to their refugee story or their background, but meet each other as people. Through networking dinners, special collaborations and taking part in events, we create space for young people to make their voices heard and to be a full part of the city.

Curious about the people behind SAWA and the organisations that support us? Read more on the About us page. Would you like to contribute to our community and make a difference together with us? We would love to hear from you.

  • Support

    Through our regular activities, the routine and the time we spend together, we build a bond of trust. Because we do not represent an official agency, the young people trust us with their worries and problems, and with the complicated issues they run into in their procedure. That is why we spend part of our time on the social support of these young people, who are often in a vulnerable position because of their age, because they are here without family and because of their limited rights in the asylum procedure.

    The support we offer includes contact with lawyers, translating letters, arranging medical appointments or referrals, solving bureaucratic obstacles, helping them find their way on public transport, connecting them with work or study networks, helping with the practical side of life in the Netherlands and making meaningful connections with Dutch society. Because the case managers at the COA and the Dutch Council for Refugees (VWN) often have too many cases, and the mental pressure on asylum seekers keeps growing, we act as a bridge and refer young people to other organisations where needed.

  • Advocacy

    SAWA Collective stands up for the rights, interests and well-being of young people and young adults in the asylum procedure. As an advocacy organisation, we amplify their voices and make sure that their experiences, perspectives and needs become visible and are taken seriously.

    Together with young people, civil society organisations and other partners, we work for more awareness, encounters and connection. We join relevant campaigns, give young people’s stories a platform and develop projects and collaborations that strengthen their voices. We do this through theatre, radio, campaigns, research and local initiatives that bring young people and local residents together, among other things. In this way we break down prejudices, encourage dialogue and bring the world of young people closer to society.

    We believe that young people should not only be heard, but should also be able to actively influence the issues that affect their lives and futures. That is why we work not only for young people, but above all with them. Because real change begins when we build, together, a society in which their voices matter and everyone counts.

    Theatre

    An important project within our Advocacy pillar is our theatre performance Welcome to the AZC, in which young people from the AZC speak for themselves, instead of others speaking about them or for them. Read more about it on the Welcome to the AZC page.

    Radio

    Another ongoing project is RADIO AZC, in collaboration with Stratenmakers Audiocollectief: a series of live radio broadcasts from the AZC in which young adults in the asylum procedure are themselves the makers, storytellers and presenters. In interactive workshops they develop their ideas and give an unfiltered look at daily life in the AZC. An invitation to listen, to understand and to get to know each other better in the city we share. Listen back to the episodes.

    Research

    Read the report Inside the System: the Psychosocial Impact of Seeking Asylum in the Netherlands by researcher Imen el Amouri, who carried out much of her fieldwork at SAWA Collective. The findings show how important grassroots and community-based organisations like SAWA Collective are for the psychosocial well-being of young people in the asylum procedure.