The American Women’s Club of Amsterdam successfully hosted the 2022 edition of the FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers Program from June 25 to July 2. This was an especially exciting event after two postponements due to the pandemic. During the one-week itinerary, 15 Cultural Volunteers (“CVs”), aged 15-18, hailed from 11 clubs and traveled from 11 different countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland,  France, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the US), stayed with local host families and immersed themselves in a variety of enriching activities which were designed to provide insights into important global issues and Dutch culture while offering them opportunities to give back to the local community…all whilst making new friends and having a ton of fun.

 

They volunteered at Plastic Whale Boat; Canal Clean-Up / deKloof Men’s Day Shelter; Cooking for the homeless / Speeltuin; rehabilitate children’s play area, and Social Housing sites, Amsterdam Noord; Gardening and Beautification. They also experienced first-hand accounts with a WWII Holocaust Survivor and refugees, and learned about human trafficking and sustainable fashion.

 

The participants in the FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers 2022 Amsterdam reflected on their experience through the essays posted here. We invite you to read them here (you must be logged in).