How volunteering helps belonging in a city

This episode of the Good Place podcast episode is an interview of Tetyana and Laura from The Volunteer The Hague team about how volunteering helps you belong in a city. They both studied and lived in different countries before settling down in The Hague.

They explain that when you move abroad you often leave behind jobs, networks and familiarity, so finding your place can take time. One thing that really helps? Staying curious. Tetyana says the excitement of a new country can fade after the “honeymoon phase,” but keeping that curiosity alive makes it easier to connect with people and understand local culture. Volunteering can play a huge role in that process.

Through Volunteer The Hague and its sister platform Den Haag Doet, people can find volunteer opportunities that match their language skills and interests. For many internationals, volunteering is not just about giving back it’s also a way to build networks, practice Dutch, develop new skills and even open doors to employment.Tetyana also stresses that volunteering should be enjoyable. While helping others is important, volunteers deserve to gain something from the experience too, whether that’s confidence, friendships or professional growth.

About 10% of the population of The Hague, so about 60,000 are international inhabitants in The Hague itself, this number almost doubles if you count Rijswijk, Wassenaar and Zoetermeer.Events like the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fairs and the Volunteer The Hague Talks bring people together, spark ideas and sometimes even lead to new projects and communities.

Internationals who choose to volunteer through their platform, are usually between the age of 25 to 45. Around 80% of them are women. The great majority of them have university degree according to a survey Volunteer The Hague did a few years ago. They're struggling to find employment, and volunteering for them serves as a cornerstone before they find a job. Volunteering should be a win-win situation. It also contributes to being more aware of the social fabric, the different layers of the city, of your surroundings and of the different people that are part of The Hague.

Good Place is a podcast about conversations on a public bench about life, place and belonging. They explore living in cities and personal growth in life. You can join them for conversations to share your experiences of the city they live in, moving places, making friends, cultural differences, and starting inspiring stories and practical tips on these learnings in life.