Melief from The Hague Raises Money for Homeless Migrant Workers in Amsterdam

33-year-old Melief from The Hague decided to take action after seeing a report in RTL News about the problem. “I knew that migrant workers are not always treated well, but not that they also become homeless,” says Melief. “The fact that they leave everything behind to come and work here, and then end up on the street, is distressing.”

He contacted De Regenboog, a drop-in center for homeless migrant workers in Amsterdam where the report was filmed. Melief started a collection among friends, family and colleagues at the law firm where he works.

Collection is going faster than expected

“I thought, a few people give something. Twenty people who give five euros makes a hundred euros. But it went very quickly, I received some very nice amounts,” says Melief. In just over a week he raised 1,350 euros.

Michael, a social worker at De Regenboog who prefers not to be mentioned by name, says that this can pay for not one but two Christmas dinners. “There was still money left at the time, so we bought sleeping bags. There is a great need for this among our target group.”

“It’s a drop in the bucket, but it’s also symbolic,” says Melief. “It’s also about making sure those people are seen.”

Underexposed group

In a broader sense, both Melief and Michael think it is important that more attention is paid to this group. “I hope there will be more respect for it,” says Michael. “And more attention. Not only national attention but also European attention. Because this is a European problem.”

Melief: “Ultimately, these people also come to work here to ensure that we have affordable groceries in the supermarket. It is our responsibility to arrange this properly.”

2023-12-25 20:30:17
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