Knowledge by, for and about newcomers
Knowledge by, for and about newcomers
Action research with undocumented individuals
June - November 2023
Human Aid Now, Kansfonds, Haella Foundation
Action Research
During COVID-19, a collective of equity funds in Amsterdam made it possible to provide food to 17,000 people through an alternative food bank. Of this group, 80% turned out to be undocumented. Several years later, 6,000 people are still dependent on this assistance. At least 4,000 of them are willing and able to work themselves, or are directly dependent on someone who is willing and able to work. Potentially, those who are able and willing to work would not need this food assistance. However, they do not have the proper documentation to work in the Netherlands.
How can we work with these people to help them become self-sufficient? In such a way that we learn what the possibilities are, despite the legal restrictions? By definition, this means exploring unconventional and creative solutions, because the regular routes (via work) are not accessible.
Through action research, we supported 10 people who use the food bank but have the potential to be self-sufficient. Together with them, we investigated what steps they could take within the Amsterdam context to build financial security for themselves (and their families).
An overarching insight is the great capacity for support among people. Here we see the greatest opportunities for realizing and scaling up informal solutions within the current legal framework. Amsterdam residents with or without ("the right") documents, local residents, social organizations, communities; people are showing that there is support for contributing to the security of existence for undocumented people.
