Amsterdam – Divers & Inclusive regularly speaks to Amsterdam organisations developing ways to promote diversity and inclusion in the city. This time we highlight the Welcome app This is an online platform where locals and newcomers can connect with each other in an approachable way.
How did the idea for the Welcome app come about?
In 2016, we, a group of enthusiastic young people, embarked on a mission: to make newcomers feel at home in the Netherlands. This is because we believe that newcomers should not be seen as numbers but as people with personal stories, interests and ambitions. However, the bureaucratic system surrounding integration is mainly concerned with practical matters, and we felt that this was not enough. So the question arose: How can we create a platform that contributes to making this target group really feel at home? We then started facilitating 1-to-1 connections and have since grown into a platform where newcomers, locals and organisations can find each other.
What is the philosophy behind the Welcome app?
Welcome app works on the principle of equality. We believe that connections between people make for greater understanding, friendships and beautiful moments. There is plenty of research on how lack of human contact between groups leads to misunderstanding and feelings of fear and hatred. As the saying goes: unknown makes unloved. At the same time, many newcomers, especially in the first few years, are fairly isolated and need contacts with locals with whom they can practise the language, for example. This is why we felt it was so incredibly important to bring people together through a medium that many people can handle these days – an app. Welcome app also believes in the importance of equal access to information. By listing relevant activities, networks and information that are often hard for newcomers to find, we ensure that newcomers can take control during their integration process. This allows them to find activities and networks based on their own needs and interests.
How exactly does the app work?
Welcome app currently offers a mobile app for newcomers, locals as well as organisations. The mobile app has four features:
- A virtual place where providers can post their activities for newcomers. Those activities can then be attended by both newcomers and locals.
- Possibility of chat contact between newcomers, locals and organisations. This starts when a newcomer asks a question (such as: “What should I bring if I am invited to a Dutch birthday party?”), which locals can then answer.
- Helpdesk for more complex questions asked by newcomers. These questions are answered by a team of experts in collaboration with our partner OpenEmbassy.
- Interpretation button that allows newcomers to access a cultural specialist who removes language and cultural barriers at the touch of a button.
Civil society organisations can easily post activities & programmes in the app via an online environment. The organisational platform also offers the possibility of obtaining an up-to-date overview of all other initiatives and events. This encourages connections between these initiatives, as well as the sharing of insights and best practices.
How exactly does the online environment for organisations (and companies) work?
Until now, we only had the app. If an organisation wanted to access the app, an employee of that organisation had to create a profile in order to offer something as an organisation. But we have now changed that. Namely, we have launched an organisation profile: via a desktop version of Welcome app, organisations can then create a profile. Daar vul je wat informatie over je organisatie in, zoals je logo en vestigingsplaats. Vervolgens kun je al jouw activiteiten, evenementen of programma’s aan je profiel koppelen, wat nieuwkomers direct terug kunnen zien in de app. Heb je als organisatie een vraag die je zelf niet kunt invullen? Dan kun je andere organisaties vinden door te zoeken op locatie of thema. Zo kan een taalschool die niets met sport doet, toch in contact komen met sportclubs die nieuwkomers willen opvangen. Deze stap was erg waardevol: de eerste reacties op het organisatie-platform zijn lovend.
Many companies in Amsterdam are interested in diversifying their workforce. What can you offer these companies?
Companies nationwide can sign up as activity providers in the Welcome app. They can then:
- Offer programmes and activities for newcomers.
- Connecting with newcomers via direct chat contact.
- Link with other organisations providing CV, job-skill, or vocational training.
- Link with organisations that do placements for newcomers at companies.
- Trainings by newcomers on diversity and inclusion.
We also organise dinners and events, such as a movie night i.c.w. UNHCR & Cinetree (see photos). Welcome app believes in the power of diversity in the workplace and calls on companies to join the Welcome app network. Important: ideally, we want newcomers to be able to be matched at their own level and in a sustainable way.
What are your plans for the future?
Welcome app hopes that in the future, all newcomers to the Netherlands will feel at home faster. We want to achieve this by becoming the facilitating platform for all stakeholders involved in the integration of newcomers. For newcomers, local individuals, organisations and municipalities. The newcomer is central to this and has access to a social network and community via Welcome app! Click here to go to the Welcome app website.
You can also download the app (both for locals and newcomers) there via Google Play or the App Store.
