In part 1, we discussed why it is important for employers, organizations, and policymakers to connect with informal networks or communities of newcomers. But how do you gain access to these networks or communities? In part 2 of our series on the importance of connecting with informal networks and communities of newcomers, read how various experts in this field gain or grant access and let them inspire you.
Gaining access to informal networks: social and materialistic conditions
There are various ways to connect with informal networks and communities. However, according to experts, there are a number of conditions that must be met. The webinar distinguished between social conditions and materialistic conditions. Aisha Ahmed, community manager at the Welcome App, and Emmylou Aben, founder of PitZtop, shared their expertise.
Firstly, it is important to start from a position of equality and to build trust with members of informal networks or communities. "At the Welcome app, we believe it is important to strive for equality. You have to see a newcomer as a human being, not as someone in need of help," says Aisha. Through the Welcome app, she brings together a community of newcomers, locals, social organizations, and employers online. By talking informally about interests or organizing online activities, these different parties gain each other's trust. From there, offline friendships, working relationships, and new initiatives also arise.
For Emmylou, too, equality and building trust are important conditions for gaining access to informal networks. With her hospitality community concept PitZtop, she builds new communities by bringing together communities of newcomers with communities of locals through activities. She believes it is important to engage with newcomers on an equal footing. On the one hand, you have to show yourself, but on the other hand, you also have to be aware of the talents and skills of the person you are talking to. This creates a sense of trust and security. From there, Emmylou offers space for unstructured learning. "Unstructured learning is making space to get to know each other and explore together how we can achieve something we want to achieve." Let people look for shared interests and work together toward a common goal. How the action that leads to that goal is carried out should be left to the new community that has been created.
In addition to these social conditions, there are also a number of materialistic conditions for gaining access to informal networks or communities of newcomers. According to Emmylou, these are time, space, and money. Time is needed to build a relationship of trust with others. Next, space is needed to facilitate meetings, and money is needed to organize activities that bring people into active contact with each other. Money is also needed to compensate people financially for the work they do.
Granting access to cooperation partners: equality is the key to success
Equality is also an important condition for Mohammed Badran, founder of the Syrian Volunteers in The Netherlands foundation, when granting access to organizations that want to work with his network of volunteers. He often sees that organizations expect his network to voluntarily cooperate in the implementation of the plans devised by the organization. Mohammed argues that in order to establish an equal relationship, informal networks need to be involved from the very beginning of a project. This allows members of the network to contribute their own ideas based on their own experiences, which he considers to be just as valuable. He also believes it is important for organizations to be aware of the fact that newcomers are trying to build a new life in the Netherlands. According to him, in addition to a sense of social involvement, newcomers also connect with organizations to build a professional network. As an organization, you should therefore offer equal compensation for the work that members of informal networks do. If your organization is unable to provide financial compensation for the work that people do, you could, for example, open up your own professional network to them. This way, you can still maintain an equal approach.
Want to hear and see more?
This article is based on the webinar "The importance of connecting with informal networks and communities of newcomers" and can be viewed online here.
Want to read more?
Curious about how to make access to informal networks and communities of newcomers sustainable? You can read about that in part 3 of this series. We also wrote this article based on the insights from the webinar.
Experts
Abdel Harchaou, director and one of the founders of DOK030 in Utrecht
Djawad Ahmadi, project assistant at Stichting De Werkshop
Inge Goorts, project leader and advisor on Health for Status Holders at Pharos
Tamer Allaloush, community manager at OpenEmbassy
Aisha Ahmed, community manager at the Welcome App
Emmylou Aben, founder of Pitztop
Mohammed Badran, founder of the Syrian Volunteers in The Netherlands
Maja Coric, one of the founders of the Refugee Ambassadors Foundation / OpenEmbassy
Hassan Mahamed, one of the founders of Saeda Foundation
Jamal Chrifi, project leader for education & labor market at Movisie
