EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Moluccan volunteer family carers

Moluccan volunteer family carers

Introduction

Moluccans are one of the oldest migrant groups in the Netherlands. They are the first such group to have an in-between generation that is experiencing care for the aged. The Moluccans must find an answer to the question of how the requirements of their own culture can be unified with the Dutch working culture.

Problem

How can the day’s timetable of Moluccan volunteer carers be improved with respect to care and work?

Description

Within the Moluccan community there is a taboo on openly speaking about the problems that accompany regular work when it comes to looking after the family. Because of these culture-specific qualities, combining work and care tasks for Moluccan volunteer carers is more complex and results in more tension than with most Dutch people. The usual points of departure for Dutch voluntary family care cannot be applied in Moluccan culture. In this project, concrete solutions are created for Moluccan volunteer carers.

Approach

Working in a group structure is important for Moluccan culture. The actual support and development of the methodology runs parallel to each other. The project will be conducted in Drenthe and Gelderland, two regions where relatively large Moluccan communities reside. As the project develops, experience from comparable projects involving the support of Dutch volunteer carers will also be applied.

Results

A practical method of tackling the problems outlined in an effective way (more group-orientated approach of volunteer carers).
Exchange of information (among Moluccans and other immigrant groups) on this theme is in process.
A project meeting was organised during which experiences gained were exchanged and communicated. The project will be brought to national attention in Moluccan and other media.

Financing

The project was financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in the framework of the subsidy scheme, Dagindeling ESF-3. The amount available was EUR 136,000.

Contact info

Stichting Muhabbat (Muhabbat Foundation)
E. Rinsampessey, tel. +31 24 3230975

Project start date

15/01/2004

Links

Stichting Muhabbat (in Dutch)Dutch National Association for Volunteer Carers (in Dutch)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services