EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Immigrant volunteers stimulate the social participation of immigrant women

Immigrant volunteers stimulate the social participation of immigrant women

Introduction

Sultanes is a joint venture of the Alfa-college, Multiculturele vrouwencentrum Jasmijn (Jasmijn Multicultural Women’s Centre) and Stichting Maatschappelijke & Juridische Dienstverlening (Social & Legal Service Association). In the project, immigrant women help other immigrant women to learn Dutch and in this way they stimulate the social participation of these women.

Problem

How can immigrant volunteers be used to stimulate immigrant women to participate more in society?

Description

Project Sultanes is characterised by its low threshold and the contribution that immigrant women make with respect to supporting other immigrant women. Sultanes focuses on language mastery and social participation, as a good command of the language is a condition of independence and participation in society.

Participating women receive one-on-one lessons in this project and are active as a group. During these individual lessons, NT2-education and coping socially are the primary focus. The lessons are given by immigrant volunteers (managed by professionals) and the participants learn about and appreciate each other’s cultures during the lessons.

Approach

At the group meetings, day-to-day matters, such as education and health, are discussed. During these meetings, women can talk with each other about parenting, learn about difficult Dutch legislation or discuss developments in the district. The questions and needs of immigrant women remain the focus during these meetings.

The Sultanes groups are part of a chain approach and serve as a vestibule for various follow-up projects in the field of education, social activation and integration. In addition, the Sultanes groups function as a safety net for dropouts from 'regular' courses. Promoting the group process is essential. In this way, participants and volunteers are stimulated to build up a social network.

Results

Two of the three original Sultanes groups have reached their maximum number of participants of twenty and either use a waiting list or refer potential participants to a group that has space.
Two new Sultanes groups were formed because of the growth in participants in 2005, thereby bringing the total number of Sultanes groups in disadvantaged districts to five.
In 2004, 35 women started the course. One of them has left the Sultanes group to follow secondary education at Alfa college (28 women started the course in 2003).
In January 2005, the total number of participants was 52.

Contact info

City of Groningen
O. Mintes-Cetin, tel. +31 50 3675639

Project start date

01/01/2004

Links

City of Groningen Social & Legal Service Association Groningen (in Dutch)Alfa-college Jasmijn Multicultural Women’s Centre (in Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Skills improvement