THE ROLE OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY: NGOS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Violetta Gul-Rechlewicz
Asst. Prof. Dr., The Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, Poland, v.gul.rechlewicz@gmail.com

Abstract

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in contemporary multicultural countries. Especially in the current era, the number of people living outside their country of birth is larger than at any other time in history. Netherland is a democratic country built by the economic, social and cultural contributions of immigrants and refugees from all parts of the world and plays leading role in implementing values of the civil society through various organizations focused on migration and refugee issues. Dutch NGOs offer important insights regarding the realities of the causes of migration and have a great deal of locally based expertise in resolving social problems that accompany the settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees. They are often staffed by the children of immigrants and refugees or by Dutch who were once immigrants or refugees themselves.  Therefore, Dutch NGOs have a good understanding of the realities of the immigrant and refugee settlement and integration processes. They could contribute positively to the protection of refugees and the settlement of immigrants. The aim of the paper is to analyze some of the Dutch non-government organizations and to show their positive impact on building solidarity between people with different backgrounds and social status, breaking down stereotypes and prejudices.

Keywords:  non-governmental organizations, immigrants, refugees, integration