Skip Navigation
Volunteer The Hague Home
  • For Volunteers
  • Events & Workshops
  • News
  • Volunteer The Hague Talks
Create accountLog in

Contact

  • Riviervismarkt 2, 2513 AM The Hague, Netherlands
  • [email protected]
  • 070 - 302 44 44
Volunteer The Hague

Volunteer The Hague

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • For volunteers
  • For organizations
  • Den Haag Doet
  • Den Haag Doet Academie

Join

  • Opportunities
  • Discover Organisations
  • Create organisation
  • Create account
  • Login
  • Help
  • Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
Powered by Deedmob tools

Post | June 2023 | Past networking events | 5 min read

Event Recap: Mix & Match May 2023

Written by

Anastasia
The May 2023 edition of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair has come to a close, leaving attendees and The Hague non-profits with lasting memories and a sense of fulfillment. In this post-event article, we take a moment to reflect on the highlights and key takeaways from this remarkable event. Held on May 13 at The Social Hub, the Volunteer Job Fair was not merely a one-day event, but a beginning of a meaningful journey for many local NGOs and international volunteers. This edition of the Mix & Match event was a resounding success, drawing more than 300 attendees eager to explore volunteer opportunities in the city and engage with like-minded individuals. The sheer number of attendees highlighted the growing interest and commitment to volunteerism within the international community of The Hague. Moreover, the fair played host to an impressive lineup of nearly 30 organizations, each dedicated to diverse causes and eager to connect with individuals willing to contribute their time, skills, and compassion. MCed by our project manager Tetyana Benzeroual, the fair began with an opening ceremony where Gert-Jan Aleman, the director of PEP Den Haag (parent organization of Volunteer The Hague) welcomed attendees in his address while passing the floor to the Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Kavita Parbhudayal who highlighted the importance of volunteer work in the community. The Deputy Mayor commended Volunteer The Hague for its efforts in bringing together volunteers and non-profit organizations and urged the public to participate in volunteering activities. In her opening remarks, she reiterated the importance of internationals volunteering in our community. ‘Volunteering is the cement of our society. It connects people and builds bridges between internationals and non-internationals, which makes The Hague stronger’. Kavita Parbhudayal In the picture, from left to right, are: Gert-Jan Aleman, Kavita Parbhudayal, Tetyana Benzeroual The carefully curated event program featured a series of presentations delivered by esteemed professionals in their respective fields: Sarah Feid Account manager at The Hague International Centre talked about Job Hunting Strategies in The Hague Region, Abderrahim Kajouane Senior Advisor at PEP Den Haag shared the insides to The Hague as a Hub for NGO Professionals, Flora Bogman-Nieboer Senior Advisor at PEP Den Haag talked about Interviewing Skills for Volunteer Opportunities, Jobs, and More, and Tetyana Benzeroual Project Manager of Volunteer The Hague informed us How Volunteering Can Benefit Your Career. These presentations provided attendees with valuable insights, sence of belonging, and a deeper understanding of the benefits of volunteering. Throughout the day, attendees were not only inspired by these presentations but also engaged in conversations with representatives from participating organizations, further deepening their understanding of volunteer opportunities and building connections for future collaborations. All in all, the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair was a testament to the fact that voluntary work is not limited by age, occupation, or background. It was a beautiful tapestry of stories and journeys, where every thread wove together to create a brighter future. We extend our deepest gratitude to the organizations that shared their causes and opportunities, inspiring attendees to become active participants in mission-driven initiatives in The Hague. Through their commitment, the attendees left equipped with the connections and inspiration needed to make a long-lasting positive impact in their communities. Let us carry the spirit of volunteerism forward and keep building bridges between NGOs and volunteers in The Hague. Photos by Michel Heerkens For more photo impressions of the event please click here The Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair through the eyes of attendees List of participating organizations 070online.nl - An organization offering local news and videos from The Hague region. ACCESS - A foundation that relies on its English-speaking international and Dutch volunteers who enjoy helping others adjust to life in the Netherlands. Community Plus - An organization focusing on closer social cohesion and a better quality of life in local neighborhoods in The Hague. Don Bosco Rijswijk - Multicultural youth center organizing activities for children and teenagers aimed at teaching play skills and allowing children to make friends. Expatriate Archive Centre - Historical organization that collects and preserves the life stories of expatriates worldwide for future research. Female Ventures - An organization that builds cross-generational community of ambitious female professionals. Haagse Watervrienden - The Hague Water Friends is a volunteer-run swimming association for young and old, which offers swimming lessons, competitive and master swimming, exercise for the elderly, and snorkeling activities in The Hague region. Justice & Peace Nederland - A human rights organization based in The Hague that provides temporary protection to human rights defenders and empowers citizens in the Netherlands to support refugees so that they may rebuild their lives. Leger des Heils - is is also known as the Dutch arm of The Salvation Army which helps vulnerable people in our society. Literaturhaus Deutsche Bibliothek - Aims to promote the cultural relationship between Germany and the Netherlands, in particular through German language and culture and the maintenance of a German-language library. Present Den Haag - A non-profit specialized in collaboration with all the professional welfare and mental healthcare organizations of The Hague and surrounding areas. RespijtHuis HouseMartin - A welcoming and warm temporary care home where homeless people in need can stay to recover from short-term illness. Romanian School the Hague - A foundation that provides informal courses in the Romanian language. Stadslink - An idealistic foundation that operates as a social enterprise, promoting people's economic and social independence. Stichting CENDDOW - The Centre for Diaspora Development Work is non-profit migrant organization that is focused on inclusive social cohesion for African migrants as part of our local society. Stichting CorrelAid Nederland - A non-profit network of data scientists who want to use their skills to advance the social good. Stichting Dessi Tuji - Non-profit organization for poverty alleviation and development cooperation in Ethiopia that provides children and adults with access to education and promoting the emancipation of Ethiopian women. Stichting TransitieCinema - An organization that runs documentary screenings on sustainability & transition, followed by Q&A sessions and workshops. Stichting Vitalis - Vitalis tries to prevent professional youth assistance for children between the ages of 5 and 18 who lack attention by linking these children to suitable buddies. TERRA Foundation - This organization promotes forest restoration and sustainable land management by providing financial and technical support to indigenous communities, helping to preserve biodiversity, wildlife, and ancestral knowledge. The Hague International Centre - A point of contact for internationals and international staff of organizations and companies in The Hague region. Together International - A non-profit dedicated to Development Aid and Humanitarian Aid projects. Under the Sun - A project that aims to empower vulnerable families in Western Sahrawi refugee camps by fundraising for house construction, as well as water tank and air conditioning installation. Viable Community - An international organization that enables people to preserve and restore nature while enjoying the experience. Wijkz - A welfare organization for the residents of The Hague, informing our community about activities, volunteer jobs, support in the neighborhood, and offering practical help where needed. Wool for Warmth - A non-profit dedicated to collecting wool and organizing knitting groups that knit clothing items for the homeless. Women's Initiatives Network - WIN is a non-profit dedicated to women, peace, and security for women in the Netherlands and Africa. YMCA Den Haag - The Hague chapter of the international youth organization that is committed to giving young people a place where they feel at home.

The May 2023 edition of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair has come to a close, leaving attendees and nonprofits in The Hague region with lasting memories and a sense of fulfillment. In this post-event article, we take a moment to reflect on the highlights and key takeaways from this remarkable event.



Held on May 13 at The Social Hub, The Hague, the VTH Volunteer Job Fair was not merely a one-day event, but the beginning of a meaningful journey for many local NGOs and international volunteers. This edition of the Mix & Match event was a resounding success, drawing more than 300 attendees eager to explore volunteer opportunities in the city and engage with like-minded individuals. The sheer number of attendees highlighted the growing interest and commitment to volunteerism within the international community of The Hague. Moreover, the fair was host to an impressive lineup of nearly 30 organizations, each dedicated to a wide variety of causes and each eager to connect with individuals willing to contribute their time, skills, and compassion.


Emceed by VTH project manager Tetyana Benzeroual, the fair began with an opening ceremony where Gert-Jan Aleman, the director of PEP Den Haag (Volunteer The Hague's parent organization) welcomed attendees in his address while passing the floor to the Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Kavita Parbhudayal, who highlighted the importance of volunteer work in the community. The Deputy Mayor commended Volunteer The Hague for its efforts in bringing together volunteers and non-profit organizations and urged the public to participate in volunteering activities. In her opening remarks, she reiterated the importance of internationals volunteering in our community.

 

‘Volunteering is the cement of our society. It connects people and builds bridges between internationals and non-internationals, which makes The Hague stronger’. --Kavita Parbhudayal


In the picture, from left to right, are: Gert-Jan Aleman, Kavita Parbhudayal, Tetyana Benzeroual


The carefully curated event program featured a series of presentations delivered by esteemed professionals in their respective fields: Sarah Feid Account manager at The Hague International Centre talked about Job Hunting Strategies in The Hague Region, Abderrahim Kajouane Senior Advisor at PEP Den Haag shared the insides to The Hague as a Hub for NGO Professionals, Flora Bogman-Nieboer Senior Advisor at PEP Den Haag talked about Interviewing Skills for Volunteer Opportunities, Jobs, and More, and Tetyana Benzeroual Project Manager of Volunteer The Hague informed us How Volunteering Can Benefit Your Career. These presentations provided attendees with valuable insights, a strong sense of belonging, and a deeper understanding of the benefits of volunteering.

Throughout the day, attendees were not only inspired by these presentations, but also engaged in conversations with representatives from participating organizations, further deepening their understanding of volunteer opportunities and building connections for future collaborations.

 

All in all, the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair was a testament to the fact that volunteer work is not limited by age, occupation, or background. It was a beautiful tapestry of stories and journeys, where every thread wove together to create a brighter future.


We extend our deepest gratitude to the organizations that shared their time, causes, and opportunities, inspiring attendees to become active participants in mission-driven initiatives in The Hague. Through their commitment, we believe that the attendees left our event equipped with the connections and inspiration needed to make a long-lasting positive impact in their communities. Let us carry the spirit of volunteerism forward and keep building bridges between NGOs and volunteers in The Hague!


Photos by Michel Heerkens  

For more photo impressions of the event please click here


The Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair through the eyes of attendees

The Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair through the eyes of participating organizations

List of participating organizations 

 

 

 

070online.nl - An organization offering local news and videos from The Hague region.

ACCESS - A foundation that relies on its English-speaking international and Dutch volunteers who enjoy helping others adjust to life in the Netherlands.

Community Plus - An organization focusing on closer social cohesion and a better quality of life in local neighborhoods in The Hague.

Don Bosco Rijswijk - Multicultural youth center organizing activities for children and teenagers aimed at teaching play skills and allowing children to make friends.

Expatriate Archive Centre - Historical organization that collects and preserves the life stories of expatriates worldwide for future research.

Female Ventures - An organization that builds cross-generational community of ambitious female professionals.

Haagse Watervrienden - The Hague Water Friends is a volunteer-run swimming association for young and old, which offers swimming lessons, competitive and master swimming, exercise for the elderly, and snorkeling activities in The Hague region.

Justice & Peace Nederland - A human rights organization based in The Hague that provides temporary protection to human rights defenders and empowers citizens in the Netherlands to support refugees so that they may rebuild their lives.

Leger des Heils - is is also known as the Dutch arm of The Salvation Army which helps vulnerable people in our society.

Literaturhaus Deutsche Bibliothek - Aims to promote the cultural relationship between Germany and the Netherlands, in particular through German language and culture and the maintenance of a German-language library.

Present Den Haag - A non-profit specialized in collaboration with all the professional welfare and mental healthcare organizations of The Hague and surrounding areas.

RespijtHuis HouseMartin - A welcoming and warm temporary care home where homeless people in need can stay to recover from short-term illness.

Romanian School the Hague - A foundation that provides informal courses in the Romanian language.

Stadslink - An idealistic foundation that operates as a social enterprise, promoting people's economic and social independence.

Stichting CENDDOW - The Centre for Diaspora Development Work is non-profit migrant organization that is focused on inclusive social cohesion for African migrants as part of our local society. 

Stichting CorrelAid Nederland - A non-profit network of data scientists who want to use their skills to advance the social good.

Stichting Dessi Tuji - Non-profit organization for poverty alleviation and development cooperation in Ethiopia that provides children and adults with access to education and promoting the emancipation of Ethiopian women.

Stichting TransitieCinema - An organization that runs documentary screenings on sustainability & transition, followed by Q&A sessions and workshops.

Stichting Vitalis - Vitalis tries to prevent professional youth assistance for children between the ages of 5 and 18 who lack attention by linking these children to suitable buddies.

TERRA Foundation - This organization promotes forest restoration and sustainable land management by providing financial and technical support to indigenous communities, helping to preserve biodiversity, wildlife, and ancestral knowledge. 

The Hague International Centre - A point of contact for internationals and international staff of organizations and companies in The Hague region.

Together International - A non-profit dedicated to Development Aid and Humanitarian Aid projects.

Under the Sun - A project that aims to empower vulnerable families in Western Sahrawi refugee camps by fundraising for house construction, as well as water tank and air conditioning installation.

Viable Community - An international organization that enables people to preserve and restore nature while enjoying the experience.

Wijkz - A welfare organization for the residents of The Hague, informing our community about activities, volunteer jobs, support in the neighborhood, and offering practical help where needed.

Wool for Warmth - A non-profit dedicated to collecting wool and organizing knitting groups that knit clothing items for the homeless.

Women's Initiatives Network - WIN is a non-profit dedicated to women, peace, and security for women in the Netherlands and Africa.

YMCA Den Haag - The Hague chapter of the international youth organization that is committed to giving young people a place where they feel at home.

Share Post
Related Posts
On the 6th of October, Volunteer The Hague held its semi-annual Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair at The Humanity Hub. The event brought together local residents and various non-profit organisations to connect internationals with volunteer opportunities in the community. The Mix & Match fair featured 25 organisations, all focusing on a variety of fields and interests, including human rights, social justice, elderly care, animal and environmental causes, and so much more. Each organisation had a booth where they could share information about their mission and the types of volunteer work available. The event attracted more than 150 visitors from The Hague region. Many of the attendees were interested in volunteering for the first time, while others were looking for new opportunities. We were honoured to have Jan van Zanen, the mayor of The Hague, open the event with a welcome address to the international community. International volunteers often have a great deal of knowledge and expertise to make a significant contribution to society, said Jan van Zanen. The mayor highlighted the contribution of voluntary work to the strength of the city and thanked those willing to volunteer. Besides the booths representing local non-profits, there were two workshops for the attendees willing to make a career transition or find new opportunities. Elena Mellara gave a presentation on how to use volunteering and internships as leverage for job success, followed by free one-on-one CV advice power meetings. Another highlight of the event was the presentation on how volunteering can sharpen your current skills and impact your professional life by Tetyana Benzeroual, Project Lead of Volunteer The Hague. Feedback The October edition of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair was a great success, with many participants expressing gratitude for the chance to come together and make a positive impact on their community. The event showcased the many ways that volunteering can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience for people of all ages and walks of life. It goes without saying that the Mix & Match Fair was also a fantastic opportunity to meet other expats and share experiences and tips about living in The Hague region. All in all, 92% of the attendees rated the event as “Very Good” and “Good”, and 69% reported that they intend to make use of the information they received at the event immediately. Some testimonials “There was a great amount of diversity in what was being offered, it did feel like there was something for everyone” “Very well-organised and inspiring” “I appreciated the enthusiasm of the people working and volunteering for the organizations represented” Save the date The next edition of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair will take place on the 13th of May at The Social Hub. We look forward to welcoming you there!

Event Recap: Mix & Match October 2022

| Past networking events

On the 6th of October, Volunteer The Hague held its semi-annual Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair at The Humanity Hub. The event brought together local residents and various non-profit organisations to connect internationals with volunteer opportunities in the community. The Mix & Match fair featured over 35 organisations, all focusing on a variety of fields and interests, including human rights, social justice, elderly care, animal and environmental causes, and so much more. Each organisation had a booth where they could share information about their mission and the types of volunteer work available. The event attracted more than 150 visitors from The Hague region. Many of the attendees were interested in volunteering for the first time, while others were looking for new opportunities. We were honoured to have Jan van Zanen, the mayor of The Hague, open the event with a welcome address to the international community. International volunteers often have a great deal of knowledge and expertise to make a significant contribution to society, said Jan van Zanen. The mayor highlighted the contribution of voluntary work to the strength of the city and thanked those willing to volunteer. Besides the booths representing local non-profits, there were two workshops for the attendees willing to make a career transition or find new opportunities. Elena Mellara gave a presentation on how to use use volunteering and internships as leverage for job success, followed by free one-on-one CV advice power meetings. Another highlight of the event was the presentation on how volunteering can sharpen your current skills and impact your professional life by Tetyana Benzeroual, Project Lead of Volunteer The Hague. Feedback The October edition of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair was a great success, with many participants expressing gratitude for the chance to come together and make a positive impact on their community. The event showcased the many ways that volunteering can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience for people of all ages and walks of life. It goes without saying that the Mix & Match Fair was also a fantastic opportunity to meet other expats and share experiences and tips about living in The Hague region. All in all, 92% of the attendees rated the event as “Very Good” and “Good”, and 69% reported that they intend to make use of the information they received at the event immediately. Some testimonials “There was a great amount of diversity in what was being offered, it did feel like there was something for everyone” “Very well-organised and inspiring” “I appreciated the enthusiasm of the people working and volunteering for the organizations represented” Save the date The next edition of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair will take place on the 13th of May at The Social Hub. We look forward to welcoming you there!
See more
 Thursday, 19 May was a very special day for us at Volunteer The Hague: After two long years of pandemic restrictions, a sense of normalcy has finally returned to our lives, and in part to celebrate this, we were thrilled to finally be able to hold an in-person event again as part of our continued mission to serve our local expat and international community! The event was held at The Hague Humanity Hub's fantastic events space, which was a perfect venue for our attendees to mix and mingle with other local internationals, as well as with representatives from nearly 30 local NGOs and service organizations in attendance! These organizations serve a wide range of interests, including organizations devoted to the enforcement of human rights, refugee and migrant support, arts and culture promotion, animal care, multiculturalism, and elderly and child care. (A full list of the organizations in attendance may be found at the end of this article.) And with over 100 attendees joining us, the event was a huge success! Our attendees spent their time during the three-hour event checking out the various tables set up by the representatives of the organizations in attendance. The reps spoke about their organizations' missions, current activities, and the benefits they offer their volunteers, and our attendees were able to ask questions and exchange contact information. It was a thrill to see everyone's enthusiasm for getting involved and bettering the local community. It was also great to see so many fantastic connections being made between attendees as well, and we hope this was the beginning of new friendships and support systems for each other! We also had several speakers as part of our program. Gerko Viseé from The Hague International Centre gave an insightful and informative talk about the current state of the local job market, while VTH's very own project manager, Tetyana Benzoural, spoke about the benefits that volunteering can offer in terms of career goals and personal fulfillment. And to start off the event, we had PEP Director Fenna Noordermeer on hand to speak about PEP, VTH's mission within PEP, and how everyone has a valuable and unique role to play in volunteering activities in The Hague. Finally, VTH volunteers Gabriel and Reem were on hand to have a short conversation with Tetyana about their experience volunteering at various organizations in The Hague. The key takeaways from this: Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends and professional connections, beef up your current job skills, and gain brand new job skills for those looking to change careers. And according to them, volunteering has also been a great way for them to get to know The Hague itself - the types of organizations that operate in the city, community goals, and even local culture and language! We want to send our heartfelt thanks to Gerko for offering his insight and advice to support our community; to volunteers Gabriel and Reem for answering questions on stage; and to all of the attendees and organizations in attendance for making this a fun event where new friends and connections could be made. And a special thank you goes to the fantastic event volunteers who stepped up to help make this event a success! We very much look forward to offering more in-person events in the future! Organizations in Attendance: ACCESS - A foundation that relies on its English-speaking international and Dutch volunteers who enjoy helping others adjust to life in the Netherlands. AFS Nederland - an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides cross-cultural learning opportunities to impart knowledge, skills and understanding for a better and more peaceful world. Arm Of Love International - A non-profit dedicated to Making Change Possible and Sustainable for all by educating, protecting, and supporting children and other disadvantaged groups in developing countries. Centre for African Justice, Peace and Human Rights - a foundation devoted to promoting justice, peace and human rights through education, awareness, campaign, training, outreach (Legal / Medical) and capacity building in Africa. CoderDojo Den Haag - a free, open and local programming club for young people. Het Koorenhuis - a creative and cultural hotspot located in the center of The Hague in a monumental building with a rich history dating back to the 17th century. Mammarosa The Hague - a non-profit that supports women who are being treated for breast cancer and gives information about early detection in the Netherlands. Middin - a foundation dedicated to helping people with brain damage while helping them with their daily needs. NL Cares - a volunteer pooling organization focussing on flexible volunteer work through social events, online volunteer agenda en corporate impact programs. Ocan - a 36 years old foundation committed to improving the position and advocacy of the Caribbean Dutch and related groups. Popradar Den Haag - the former Haags Pop Centrum, is an organization that provides a lively and diverse pop scene in The Hague. Positive News Foundation - a young foundation that connects uplifting news articles with people looking for positive news. Present Den Haag - a non-profit specialized in collaboration with all the professional welfare and mental healthcare organizations of The Hague and surroundings. Reach & Teach - a foundation that aims to assist the integration of newcomers (status holders, asylum seekers, and migrants) in The Hague region by offering Dutch and English classes, buddy systems, and social events. Saúde da Floresta - a foundation dedicated to helping the indigenous Amazone people of Brasil. The Hague International Centre a point of contact for international staff of organizations and companies in The Hague region. The Hungry Mind - a volunteer-run community centre for internationally-minded people. Together International - a foundation with the mission to design and implement solidarity projects addressing the socio-economic situation that emerged from the Covid-19 international humanitarian crisis. Vereniging Humanitas Home-Start - a project that offers support, practical help and friendship to parents by trained volunteers with parenting experience. Vier het Leven - a foundation that helps to realize life-changing events for the elderly. Vitalis - a foundation that matches a young person in need to an adult volunteer, to form a caring interaction that will promote the positive development of the young person. VTV Thuismaatjes - an organization that supports people with disabilities to participate in daily life activities, such as walks, sports, going to the movies and having positive social contact with others. Wijkz - a welfare organization for the residents of the Hague, to inform them about activities, voluntary jobs, support in the neighborhood and give practical help where needed. Wool for Warmth - a non-profit dedicated to collecting wool and organizing knitting groups that knit for the homeless. WWF - active in more than 100 countries and on 6 continents, this foundation does everything it can to protect and restore nature.

Event Recap: VTH Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fair - May 2022 Edition

| Past networking events

 Thursday, 19 May was a very special day for us at Volunteer The Hague: After two long years of pandemic restrictions, a sense of normalcy has finally returned to our lives, and in part to celebrate this, we were thrilled to finally be able to hold an in-person event again as part of our continued mission to serve our local expat and international community! The event was held at The Hague Humanity Hub's fantastic events space, which was a perfect venue for our attendees to mix and mingle with other local internationals, as well as with representatives from nearly 30 local NGOs and service organizations in attendance! These organizations serve a wide range of interests, including organizations devoted to the enforcement of human rights, refugee and migrant support, arts and culture promotion, animal care, multiculturalism, and elderly and child care. (A full list of the organizations in attendance may be found at the end of this article.) And with over 100 attendees joining us, the event was a huge success! Our attendees spent their time during the three-hour event checking out the various tables set up by the representatives of the organizations in attendance. The reps spoke about their organizations' missions, current activities, and the benefits they offer their volunteers, and our attendees were able to ask questions and exchange contact information. It was a thrill to see everyone's enthusiasm for getting involved and bettering the local community. It was also great to see so many fantastic connections being made between attendees as well, and we hope this was the beginning of new friendships and support systems for each other! We also had several speakers as part of our program. Gerko Viseé from The Hague International Centre gave an insightful and informative talk about the current state of the local job market, while VTH's very own project manager, Tetyana Benzoural, spoke about the benefits that volunteering can offer in terms of career goals and personal fulfillment. And to start off the event, we had PEP Director Fenna Noordermeer on hand to speak about PEP, VTH's mission within PEP, and how everyone has a valuable and unique role to play in volunteering activities in The Hague. Finally, VTH volunteers Gabriel and Reem were on hand to have a short conversation with Tetyana about their experience volunteering at various organizations in The Hague. The key takeaways from this: Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends and professional connections, beef up your current job skills, and gain brand new job skills for those looking to change careers. And according to them, volunteering has also been a great way for them to get to know The Hague itself - the types of organizations that operate in the city, community goals, and even local culture and language! We want to send our heartfelt thanks to Gerko for offering his insight and advice to support our community; to volunteers Gabriel and Reem for answering questions on stage; and to all of the attendees and organizations in attendance for making this a fun event where new friends and connections could be made. And a special thank you goes to the fantastic event volunteers who stepped up to help make this event a success! We very much look forward to offering more in-person events in the future! Organizations in Attendance: ACCESS - A foundation that relies on its English-speaking international and Dutch volunteers who enjoy helping others adjust to life in the Netherlands. AFS Nederland - an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides cross-cultural learning opportunities to impart knowledge, skills and understanding for a better and more peaceful world. Arm Of Love International - A non-profit dedicated to Making Change Possible and Sustainable for all by educating, protecting, and supporting children and other disadvantaged groups in developing countries. Centre for African Justice, Peace and Human Rights - a foundation devoted to promoting justice, peace and human rights through education, awareness, campaign, training, outreach (Legal / Medical) and capacity building in Africa. CoderDojo Den Haag - a free, open and local programming club for young people. Het Koorenhuis - a creative and cultural hotspot located in the center of The Hague in a monumental building with a rich history dating back to the 17th century. Mammarosa The Hague - a non-profit that supports women who are being treated for breast cancer and gives information about early detection in the Netherlands. Middin - a foundation dedicated to helping people with brain damage while helping them with their daily needs. NL Cares - a volunteer pooling organization focussing on flexible volunteer work through social events, online volunteer agenda en corporate impact programs. Ocan - a 36 years old foundation committed to improving the position and advocacy of the Caribbean Dutch and related groups. Popradar Den Haag - the former Haags Pop Centrum, is an organization that provides a lively and diverse pop scene in The Hague. Positive News Foundation - a young foundation that connects uplifting news articles with people looking for positive news. Present Den Haag - a non-profit specialized in collaboration with all the professional welfare and mental healthcare organizations of The Hague and surroundings. Reach & Teach - a foundation that aims to assist the integration of newcomers (status holders, asylum seekers, and migrants) in The Hague region by offering Dutch and English classes, buddy systems, and social events. Saúde da Floresta - a foundation dedicated to helping the indigenous Amazone people of Brasil. The Hague International Centre a point of contact for international staff of organizations and companies in The Hague region. The Hungry Mind - a volunteer-run community centre for internationally-minded people. Together International - a foundation with the mission to design and implement solidarity projects addressing the socio-economic situation that emerged from the Covid-19 international humanitarian crisis. Vereniging Humanitas Home-Start - a project that offers support, practical help and friendship to parents by trained volunteers with parenting experience. Vier het Leven - a foundation that helps to realize life-changing events for the elderly. Vitalis - a foundation that matches a young person in need to an adult volunteer, to form a caring interaction that will promote the positive development of the young person. VTV Thuismaatjes - an organization that supports people with disabilities to participate in daily life activities, such as walks, sports, going to the movies and having positive social contact with others. Wijkz - a welfare organization for the residents of the Hague, to inform them about activities, voluntary jobs, support in the neighborhood and give practical help where needed. Wool for Warmth - a non-profit dedicated to collecting wool and organizing knitting groups that knit for the homeless. WWF - active in more than 100 countries and on 6 continents, this foundation does everything it can to protect and restore nature.
See more

Event Recap: The VTH Virtual Networking Event & Volunteer Job Fair - October 2021 Edition

| Past networking events

 This past Thursday, VTH once again held our popular Mix & Match Networking Event & Volunteer Job Fair - our first event after the summer holidays! This was a bit of a special "hybrid" event for us, as it was the first time since the start of the pandemic that the VTH team was back in the office together. It was so wonderful to run an event from PEP headquarters and be around one another again! And practically, running the event from a centralized location (as opposed to our own kitchen tables) was very convenient for us. In addition to the VTH team, we were joined virtually by representatives from 12 local non-profits and NGOs (whose names and descriptions can be found at the end of this post), as well as over 160 attendees! For two hours, our attendees mixed and mingled with each other and with the organizational representatives in Zoom breakout rooms - and from what we saw, many positive and fruitful connections were made! To start off the event, our fantastic speaker (and longtime friend of VTH) Vassia Sarantopoulou of the mental health support organization AntiLoneliness was on hand to give a short presentation on how to cope with constant change in our lives. Considering everything that's happened in the world over the last 18 months, this is both a timely and necessary topic. We will definitely hold more networking events and workshops in the future, so please stay tuned for more announcements. But for those of you unable to attend this event last Thursday, here is a quick summary of the important points from Vassia's presentation. We hope you'll find them as helpful to your own personal journeys as we have! Strategies for Coping with Life Changes Vassia started off her presentation by walking us through the different types of changes we experience in life: transitions and losses, of course, but also changes that we ourselves initiate, such as new habits. It's these types of changes that Vassia focused on during her presentation - self-initiated change for the better. Strangely, our brains have a bias against change because they prefer patterns and stability; they even resist positive changes! But this resistance is normal; uncertainty is registered in our brain as an error - as danger - because any change is a type of loss. But being prepared and framing change in terms of a win instead of a loss are key skills to learn in order to cope. According to psychology theory, there are stages of self-change: Pre-contemplation - where a person begins to think about change but has a bias towards resisting the change Contemplation - where a person begins to see the value of the upcoming change Preparation - finding the "why" of the change, preparing one's environment, and preparing one's mindsent Action - initiating the change itself Maintenance - keeping up the desired change going forward Maintenance is the toughest stage, but Vassia introduced strategies such as journaling, regular (re-)evaluation, and self-forgiveness as methods to keep up this maintenance. And, of course, rewarding oneself in order to keep up your motivation to sustain beneficial changes. Finally, Vassia made the very important point that consistent small changes are just as (and perhaps more) important than making huge changes in one's life. These changes tend to be easier to implement and have the potential to have the greatest rewards over time. We want to thank Vassia for attending our event and offering her insight and support to our community. We can't wait to hear from her again at a future event! Organizations in Attendance: Expatriate Archive Centre – A local historical organization whose mission is to preserve documents and materials related to local expat history. Stek - Den Haag Wereldhuis/The Hague World House – An information and advisory centre, with the aim of empowering undocumented migrants to make well-informed decisions. NL Cares – A volunteer pooling organization focussing on flexible volunteer work through social events, online volunteer agenda en corporate impact programs. Museon – A culture and science museum in The Hague for children and adults. Kessler Stichting – A homeless care organization serving The Hague and the surrounding region. Ga Den Haag – A group of four foundations focused on tours and group packages with enthusiastic volunteers showing the best from The Hague. WoonZorgcentra Haaglanden (WZH) – A care organization dedicated to providing guidance in the case of dementia, physical disorders and NAH. Chikara Cambodia – A foundation that combines education and enviromental projects in Cambodia. Muzee Scheveningen – A history and culture museum of the fishermans village Scheveningen. Stichting tot behoud van de Historische Buitenplaats Ockenburgh – An organization that originated from a citizens' initiative, in which about 100 volunteers are actively divided over different groups and projects. Reach&Teach - A non-profit organization that offers free Dutch and English language courses, as well as provides workshops and events to help facilitate the integration process of newcomers within Dutch society. Centre for African Justice Peace and Human Rights - A foundation that engages in promoting justice, peace and human rights through education, awareness, campaign, training, outreach(Legal/Medical) and capacity building in Africa. Stichting Aquarius – A foundation aiming to move the 6th Internationale Jeugd Film Festival (Int. Youth Film Festival) from Rotterdam to The Hague.
See more