Sollicitatie TeamUp - Voluntary work for refugee children in NL

JOIN THE TEAM! (ENGLISH HOME)

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers for TeamUP

Get started as a volunteer for TeamUp and spend approximately five hours per week facilitating sports, games, and physical activities for refugee children or teenagers at a (emergency) shelter location near you.

About you:

Experience in organizing recreational activities for children or teenagers
Relevant work experience or education (or currently studying) in the fields of pedagogy, education, sports, games, and/or physical activity
Available for approximately 5 hours per week starting around 15:30 (the day when activities take place varies by location)
Available for an extended period. Stability is essential for this vulnerable group of children
For the children's teams, the emphasis of the activities is more on play and less on sports. It is important to be creative in responding to this
For the teenage teams, it's important that you have an affinity for sports, can set boundaries, and respond to the needs of young people

We offer:

The opportunity to gain experience in this field and further your development
A place in an international, enthusiastic, and professional volunteer team
Training sessions and follow-up training in facilitating activities and working with the specific target group
Events for exchanging experiences with other volunteers
Counseling and stress management sessions
Travel expense reimbursement

Apply

JOIN THE TEAM

Join and strengthen our team

As a facilitator for TeamUp, you provide psychosocial support to refugee children and teenagers through sports, games, and physical activities. They learn to cope with their emotions in a playful manner, gain more confidence, and thus build a hopeful future. You will receive training and guidance beforehand. Afterward, you join an enthusiastic team of other volunteers to work at a shelter location near you.

WATCH KIRSTEN'S STORY

FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN IN THE NETHERLANDS

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VOLUNTEERS

Currently, there are approximately 165 active volunteers for TeamUp.

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LOCATIONS

TeamUp is active in approximately 60 shelter centers across the entire country.

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CHILDREN REACHED

In 2022, more than 3650 children and young people participated in TeamUp in the Netherlands.

WHAT DOES A TEAMUP SESSION LOOK LIKE?

At a fixed time each week, you, along with your team, facilitate sports, games, and physical activities for refugee children and teenagers aged 6 to 18. These activities have a theme and a purpose. Children learn to cope with emotions like anger, fear, and stress in a playful manner. Additionally, you have a monitoring role where you learn how to recognize concerning behavior and, if necessary, refer children to specialized care and support.

For the children’s sessions, the emphasis of the activities is more on play and less on sports. For the teenage sessions, the emphasis is more on sports and responding to the needs of the young people.

Apply for TeamUp
in 4 steps

TeamUp was developed in 2015 by Save the Children, War Child and UNICEF Netherlands. They bundled their years of global expertise together in a program for refugee children in the Netherlands – and far beyond.

01.

APPLICATION

After applying, we will receive your data. We will contact you as soon as possible.

02.

INTRODUCTION

After a short intake through the phone, we schedule an (online) interview. During this interview we will tell you more about the background and meaning of TeamUp and your role in it.

03.

TRAINING

After the interview you will follow a two-day StartUp training. You will learn to supervise the TeamUp activities and to work with the specific target group.

04.

START

If you have successfully completed the training, you are almost ready to start. We only check a reference and request a VOG (certificate of conduct). Then you can start!

EXPERIENCES OF
OUR VOLUNTEERS

Incredibly happy faces

“What stays with me the most are those incredibly happy faces, I think that’s fantastic. I go home after TeamUp with a satisfied feeling. It’s so nice that you can be there for those children, even if it’s only for a few hours the week. That they seek that interaction with you, can pour out their energy and be a kid for a while.”

Everyone should do this

“Sometimes I come home and I think: ‘I have to hold on to this feeling, it went so well’. Actually, everyone should sign up as a TeamUp volunteer. Not only for the children, but also for yourself. It helps you further develop yourself and it gives you a different outlook on life. Everyone should see and do this.”

TeamUp is really something positive

“When we go to the shelter, the children are always enthusiastic, they really enjoyed it. I feel that TeamUp is really something positive for them. We now have a core group of children who participate every week. My satisfaction is in contact with them, you notice a lot of appreciation.”

It gives so much satisfaction

“My satisfaction comes from seeing the children who are so happy. At the end of a TeamUp session we sit in a circle and you ask what they like and they sometimes say ‘everything!’ then they tap us with the elbow and say “I’ll be back next week!”.’

I'm just as happy as the kids

“During the sessions, children are increasingly collaborating, but not only the children benefit from TeamUp. It also provides me with the necessary energy after a long day at work. I know that with TeamUp I make the children happy with the activities we do, I see them relaxed. Conversely, they make me just as happy.”

JOIN TEAMUP

We are urgently looking for volunteers in the emergency shelter location. We are also often looking for new volunteers at the regular shelter locations in the Netherlands.

Apply here