Did you come to the Netherlands alone before your 18th birthday and have a question?
Sometimes you feel happy and energized, other times you feel bad or stressed.
There can be many reasons why you feel bad. For example, because of everything you have to do for school or work.
You may also be stressed about your procedure or your family’s situation.
There are things you can do yourself if you are not doing well. It may help to talk to someone. Sometimes you can solve the problem, or part of the problem. Praying can also calm you down. Or listening to music and going for a walk.
It’s normal to feel down from time to time. But if it lasts a long time and is very bad, it is important to seek help.
There are different types of professional help. The first step you should take is to make an appointment with your primary care physician or GZA.
The family doctor can then refer you to a specialist that fits what you need.
SAMAH has also created a booklet on what you can do if you are not doing well. In it there are also many tips.
Send us a message if you would like to receive the booklet.
You can just say something about it when you are discriminated against, because discrimination is not normal. But sometimes it’s hard to say something about it. They don’t understand you or think it’s not discrimination. Some people say discrimination is part of life and you have to accept it.
It may also be that you yourself prefer not to talk about it or ignore it. Or that you don’t do certain things because doing so risks discrimination.
If you are discriminated against, you can also file a complaint or report it to the police. There are organizations that can help you do this.
Listen to our podcast on discrimination.
The law says you are entitled to a minimum hourly wage. This is the minimum amount you should receive per hour from your employer.
The minimum hourly wage depends on your age. If you want to know what your minimum hourly wage is, go to the government website.
Make good arrangements with your boss about your hourly wage before you sign a contract. If you get less than the minimum hourly wage, you can talk to your boss about it. If the problem is not resolved, you can make a report to the Dutch Labor Inspectorate. You may do this anonymously.
Call the SAMAH Help Desk if you have more questions.
Check out 18ennu.com.
Almost in every city or village in the Netherlands you have youth workers or a youth center. People work there who can help you with questions about money and perhaps also with looking for work, making a resume for work or questions about debt.
Do you already have a problem with money. Often the municipality employs people, who can help with debt or refer you to debt assistance. Sometimes there are also buddy projects that can help you.
They usually know this from the municipality or youth work.
Don’t know who to ask to help you? Then you can always call or email the SAMAH Help Desk.
Do you not yet speak Dutch very well, but would like to learn and practice Dutch?
There are websites that will help you practice the Dutch language.
You can also look for Dutch lessons on YouTube.
SAMAH has made a list with tips on how to learn the Dutch language.
If you would like to receive this list send us a message.
The law says you are entitled to a minimum hourly wage. This is the minimum amount you should receive per hour from your employer.
The minimum hourly wage depends on your age. If you want to know what your minimum hourly wage is, go to the government website.
Make good arrangements with your boss about your hourly wage before you sign a contract. If you get less than the minimum hourly wage, you can talk to your boss about it. If the problem is not resolved, you can make a report to the Dutch Labor Inspectorate. You may do this anonymously.
Call the SAMAH Help Desk if you have more questions.
You may work in the Netherlands if your asylum application has been pending for at least 6 months.
Your employer must then apply for a permit. That permit is called a work permit.
You also need a BSN number. This is your own personal number with which you are registered in the Netherlands.
To get your salary, you must also have a bank account number.
If you don’t yet have a BSN number, you can already volunteer. Sometimes you will receive a small stipend.
If you earn your own money and live in COA’s shelter, you must give a large portion of what you earn to COA. They call this a co-payment of the cost of shelter.
Make proper arrangements with your employer and avoid being exploited.
Do you not yet speak Dutch very well, but would like to learn and practice Dutch?
There are websites that will help you practice the Dutch language.
You can also look for Dutch lessons on YouTube.
SAMAH has made a list with tips on how to learn the Dutch language.
If you would like to receive this list send us a message.
Sometimes you feel happy and energized, other times you feel bad or stressed.
There can be many reasons why you feel bad. For example, because of everything you have to do for school or work.
You may also be stressed about your procedure or your family’s situation.
There are things you can do yourself if you are not doing well. It may help to talk to someone. Sometimes you can solve the problem, or part of the problem. Praying can also calm you down. Or listening to music and going for a walk.
It’s normal to feel down from time to time. But if it lasts a long time and is very bad, it is important to seek help.
There are different types of professional help. The first step you should take is to make an appointment with your primary care physician or GZA.
The family doctor can then refer you to a specialist that fits what you need.
SAMAH has also created a booklet on what you can do if you are not doing well. In it there are also many tips.
Send us a message if you would like to receive the booklet.
You can just say something about it when you are discriminated against, because discrimination is not normal. But sometimes it’s hard to say something about it. They don’t understand you or think it’s not discrimination. Some people say discrimination is part of life and you have to accept it.
It may also be that you yourself prefer not to talk about it or ignore it. Or that you don’t do certain things because doing so risks discrimination.
If you are discriminated against, you can also file a complaint or report it to the police. There are organizations that can help you do this.
Listen to our podcast on discrimination.
Assad is gone. As a result, there is a new situation in Syria. It is not yet clear what this is going to mean for people in Syria and Syrians in the Netherlands.
If you have just arrived in the Netherlands, you can just apply for asylum.
If you applied for asylum in the Netherlands less than 21 months ago, the IND will not make a decision for the next 6 months. This is called decision moratorium.
If you have already received a negative, the IND will not send you back to Syria for the next 6 months. This is called departure moratorium.
In the first half of 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes a new announcement on the situation in Syria. On this basis, the IND will again make decisions on asylum applications from Syria.
If you have questions about this, call the SAMAH Help Desk.
Policy on asylum seekers is in the news a lot.
The new minister for Asylum and Migration is named Ms. Faber. She wants fewer asylum seekers to come to the Netherlands. And that the rules become stricter for the asylum seekers who are already here. For example, that it becomes more difficult to have family come over. It also wants fewer spots for COA shelters.
What this policy means for your situation is not yet clear. The new rules must first be reviewed by the government. So the rules are not yet final.
Many experts and lawyers also doubt that these new rules are allowed under the law. So much is unclear.
Talk about it with your supervisor (Nidos or COA). You may also send a message to the SAMAH help desk.
Not everyone had an interview with the IND in Ter Apel. That’s because it’s very busy.
You are now in an emergency location because there is not enough room for everyone in Ter Apel.
You are, however, registered as a minor with the IND. So you don’t have to worry about your procedure. That will be fine.
You will receive an invitation from the IND for an interview. We just don’t know how long that will last.
Do you have a problem and don't know how to solve it? Do you just want to talk to someone?
Or email info@samah.nl
"I often feel sad and lonely. What can help me feel better?"
"I am afraid of all the changes that will happen when I turn 18. Who is going to help me?"
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