GROWTH PROGRAM

Dutch Advanced Class:

The Advanced classes are intended for people with an advanced level of Dutch (B1) and are focused on further developing their skills. These classes ensure that students feel more confident in using the Dutch language. The classes focus primarily on improving speaking skills, reading skills, and grammar through reading texts and completing exercises. During the class, we make sure that everyone is involved. We also give a lot of feedback and give the students the opportunity to ask as many questions as possible. With the advanced Dutch classes you’ll not only learn the language, but also learn more about Dutch culture!

English Language Café:

At the English Language Cafe, students come together in a fun environment to practice their English together, regardless of skill level. The room becomes a melting pot of cultures and ideas, so prepare to make new friends and improve your conversational English skills – and maybe even try some homemade international cuisines!

Dutch Language Café:

Are you ready to take the first step in learning the beautiful Dutch language? Look no further, because the Dutch Language Cafe is here to help!

Imagine sipping on a cup of coffee or tea while immersing yourself in a new language and culture. That’s exactly what you’ll get at our language cafe! The language café has a relaxed and supportive atmosphere, perfect for beginners.

We understand that starting a new language can be intimidating, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Our classes are designed to make the learning process easy, enjoyable, and stress-free. You’ll practice your speaking and listening skills through fun and interactive activities, and you’ll make new friends along the way. So come join the class, grab a drink and a snack, and let’s start learning Dutch!

English Advanced Class:

The IELTS preparation course offers help to those students who are applying/planning to apply for a university study in The Netherlands. It is an intensive course that requires at least a B1 level of English. The course is specifically built to prepare students for the test and practices reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills.

KIDS PROGRAM

Many of the refugees don’t come alone: they have children – for whom they want a better future, education and a life in peace. Many of these families have common experiences of trauma. All those experiences together with the challenges of settling into a totally different new country affects family well-being – the children’s wellbeing.

RPM volunteers cannot offer therapy – what we can offer are different activities, organized by the Kids Team.

Kids Team is a group of trained volunteers (mandatory kids team training + training basic trauma sensitive communication) that offers meaningful (sport and other recreational, educational) activities for the children living in the azc. Its work is based on the identified needs of the children, with continuous collaboration of the COA staff and other volunteer organisations offering children programs in the azc.

“The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love. ”

Bruce D. Perry

Birthday Party for kids:

A moment of celebration. A moment of not being “a refugee kid”, living in an AZC. Just a child, blowing out candles, listening to family and friends singing Happy birthday for you. A fun party with games, dancing, hanging out with each other – because every child deserves a birthday celebration.

Every month, we invite all children who were born that time of the year, together with their family, to celebrate with us.

Kids Karate:

Karate is a  traditional Japanese martial art. Karate helps to develop balance, coordination, general fitness, flexibility, sense of rhythm and body awareness. Children benefit from increased confidence and self-esteem.

Kids & Teens Football:

Play football with the children in the azc  – as this game teaches kids accountability, leadership, and the impact of positive sportsmanship. Every position has a purpose and to execute a play successfully, each individual needs to fulfill their responsibility, while working together—a skill that’s valuable both on and off the field.

Teen Girls Club:

Teenagers, especially teenage girls are the most difficult target group to reach in the azc. They are often isolated, depressed, and have very little contact with the world outside of their rooms. It’s important to build a good relationship with them – personal invitation and regular contact is a must. Weekly chill, relaxed activities, which vary from nail polish through crafts to dance and singing…

SPORTS TEAM

All around the world, organisations working with/for refugees use sport to enhance well-being, include the marginalised and work towards more cohesive societies. We also believe that sport has the ability to break down cultural barriers, improve physical and mental wellbeing and that it creates communities.

We organize our sport activities in a way that we don’t just deliver them: we try to find out what the refugees living in Maastricht need and offer activities based on this knowledge. We strive to engage both the refugee, the student and the local “Maastrichtenaar” communities in order to create positive social interaction.

Monthly Hike:

Once a month the RPM community comes together and discovers the beautiful nature around Maastricht. Hiking together is good for the body, the mind and it heals the soul. Nature clears the mind and reduces stress – and our monthly hikes are amazing community events as well!

SPORTS PROGRAM

Bouldering:

Every Saturday, climbers gather at Radium Boulderhal for a few hours of fun climbing. Who can climb to the top of every boulder? The group works together to solve as many boulder problems as possible and support each other as they climb! Led by climbing teachers who ensure safety and help with technique, climbers are guaranteed to have a load of fun laughing and socializing with each other and the other people around the gym.

Voice Program

The aim of the voice program is advocacy and communication. We aim to build bridges by raising awareness about refugee issues, by speaking up and forming task forces to involve ourselves in urgent situations that need addressing, and by creating visibility and accessibility for all those who want to know what is up in RPM.

Crisis Shelter Task Force:

As the regular Dutch refugee system filled up during the summer of 2022, the government opened crisis shelters around the country. Maastricht is currently hosting three shelters. One of the shelters, Mariënwaard, is located at the edge of town, causing refugees to live in social isolation as they do not have the means to travel to the city easily (especially not with children).

People live there in uncertainty: they have no information about their process, they have no information about how long they should stay in a crisis shelter…

With the Crisis Shelter Task Force we try to have up to date information about the needs of the people trapped in crisis shelters and find ways to react to these needs. If necessary, we collect donations, organize fundraising campaigns, and guide people to our activities.

PR Team:

The PR team is in charge of everything communications-related in RPM. We make sure to have a good overview of all the commotion and activity that RPM is up to, and communicate it in a clear, transparent and reliable way. We make sure to build bridges and make RPM an accessible organization to get involved in, ask questions, stay informed and know what’s up. From graphic design and promotion for all our events and activities, to film and photography, we create a little window of insight into our community.

VOICE PROGRAM

Advocacy Events & Collaborations:

From film screenings, to lectures, to community dinners, RPM hosts events to address, educate and raise awareness about topics relating to refugee experiences, rights and current affairs and policy. We are always open for collaborations with other organizations for events that fall within our scope and values, so if you have an idea just get in touch with us!

RPM Blog & Podcast:

The aim of the RPM Blog & Podcast is to contribute to raising the voices of those who have a migration or refugee background on their own terms. We welcome submissions and participants to contribute on a range of different topics, such as: advocating for human rights, raising awareness around refugee and migration issues, policy  analysis, sharing stories, artwork, poetry, first hand experiences, cultural knowledge, experiences or reflections on asylum seeking procedures, and reviewing books and music (art), among others.