Together with NewBees, we spent a year working with people who had fled the war in Ukraine. Our goal was to provide them with direct support in accessing Dutch society, with a focus on employment. At the same time, we wanted to learn from their experiences in rebuilding their lives in the Netherlands. This project, called Direct Meedoen (Direct Participation), resulted in the report Van Direct Meedoen naar Volwaardig Meedoen(From Direct Participation to Full Participation).
Findings report Direct Participation
Refugees from Ukraine - unlike people in the regular asylum procedure - can participate much faster and with more autonomy and freedom in the Netherlands, but at the same time without access to the welfare state. This thus provides an opportunity to learn what is possible when an asylum procedure does not cause delays.
Direct access to work leads to higher participation in the labor market. The employment rate of people from Ukraine is much higher after one year (50%), than for newcomers one year after they started integration (6.5%).
But this does not automatically lead to full and equal access to Dutch society. People from Ukraine need language lessons, meaningful social connections, access to the housing market and (mental) health care and more knowledge about the Dutch labor market.
With support from: Goldschmeding Foundation, The DOEN Foundation, Anton Jurgens Fund, Oranje Fund and Dioraphte Foundation.
Download report
Direct Participation to Full Participation (pdf)
