November 2014 Newsletter Happy St. Patricks Day
ACCESS in November!
Inside
Editor’s Note Letter from the Executive Director November Further Favourite Green Places and Cafés 5 things you didn’t know about… 5 uses you didn’t know about… Departmental News Volunteer of the Month Departmental Vacancies Volunteer Feature Your Fellow Volunteers What’s on in November Workshops & More Books
We’d love to hear from you in the next newsletter – do send us your contributions!
Newsletter Editor: Anne Craig Send your input to editaccess@gmail. com by the 20th of every month November, from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry 1 ACCESS for & by volunteers November 2014
ACCESS Departments Executive Director Deborah Valentine access.executivedirector@gmail.com
Office Manager Qin Cai manager@access-nl.org
Cancerlink Aine Campbell ainecamp@hotmail.com
CSN Counseling Services Network Brenda Couture csn@access-nl.org
CSD Computer Services John Pellet csd@access-nl.org
CEB Baby Courses Bintou Keita (Den Haag/Rotterdam) Maria Krawcyk (Amsterdam/Utrecht) ceb@access-nl.org
CED Community Education Christine Fischer ced@acces-nl.org
Communications Co-Managers - Christopher an-Traumer / Carina Hyllested communications@access-nl.org
E-Zine Editor Sally Squirrell editor@access-nl.org
Volunteers’ Newsletter Editor Anne Craig editaccess@gmail.com
ACCESS Guides Madhavi Mistry-Ajgaonkar access.guides.coordinator@gmail.com
Webmaster Monica Meier-Bahl webmaster@access-nl.com
Social Media Matt Rees socialmedia@access-nl.org
Finance David Sanders fin@access-nl.org
THD Helpdesk Manager Magdalini Zografou thd@access-nl.org
THD LVM Coordinator Antonio Gutierrez guti.antonio@hotmail.fr
THD Training Coordinator Nuria Garcia Saorin training.thd@gmail.com
THD Atrium Coordinator Annelies Ras annelies.ras@denhaag.nl
“Welcome to The Hague” Project Coordinator Aldo Rodriguez welcome@access-nl.org
IRD Co-Managers Heiner Pierenkemper / Arto Salojarvi ird@access-nl.org
VRD Volunteer Resources Manager Neha Khanna vrd@access-nl.org
Relationship Management Team Thais Pagani fnd@access-nl.org
PR/Marketing - Event Management Roy Lie prd@access-nl.org
Community Liaison Officer Jane Meijer-Zhang Community.liaison@access-nl.org
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Editor’s Note
Dear ACCESS Colleagues, As this is November’s newsletter, there is a feature on November! We have volunteers of 30 different nationalities working for ACCESS and we span the globe. One reason I like working for ACCESS is the opportunity to discover things about our fellow volunteers’ countries. I thought it would be interesting to see what important dates were celebrated or commemorated throughout the world in November. Before I started work on this newsletter I didn’t know about the festival of St Maarten celebrated on November 11 in the Netherlands. If you didn’t either, read on…. Some people find November a dark and dismal month, but it need not be that way! Read the November article for advice how to make it cosy and cheerful. A new feature is in this issue – 5 things you didn’t know about a home country of one of our volunteers, and this month it is Bulgaria – the home country of Miroslave (Mirra) Simagina. We plan to cover a different country each month so it is going to take a while! There is also a puzzle in this newsletter. Hidden in the text is the word Bulgaria (the country of the month) – not as a whole word, but split up e.g. ‘Us ACCESS volunteers’ hides the country USA. Email me the page number and sentence where you find the hidden Bulgaria. For the lucky winner there will be a surprise prize! If there is more than one reader who sends in the correct answer there will be a draw. Thank you to John Fields who came up with the puzzle this month. As I am writing this I am sat in the ACCESS offices and feel content to be here. I can hear friendly chat, constructive conversations and volunteers working together. It really is a great work environment.
Happy Reading Anne
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Letter from the Executive Director
This weekend, I was at the Delfiade – kind of a mixed bag fair in Delft. We were invited as the organisers were trying to give a more international flavour and appeal to the event. Across from us was DelftMama, and we shared the table with InTouch Rotterdam. It was a GLORIOUS day – the sun was out, the church bells rang, there was music and a great atmosphere. I was ably supported by Anca and Fleur Duggan of InTouch and though we closed shop a little early, I had a great time. It has been a while since I attended a Fair on behalf of ACCESS. I mean, I am at many, but rarely behind the table so to speak …. I am usually happily running around networking, collecting information and promoting ACCESS elsewhere. But, what a joy it was to do so this way, this time. We did not have a tremendous amount of visitors, but the ones we did speak to walked away with a big smile on their faces. We had helped. So the smiles on our faces were also broad. However, what amazes me is how often we hear, from people working in companies, organisations with which we DO have contact that they have not heard about us; that their own HR, or contact people have not shared the fact that we are available, and how we can help. Astonishing, frustrating ….and so sad – especially when you hear about the hurdles some have faced and know we had answers for them. But, this also made me realise that these are perfect opportunities to ask these people to remind their own companies, institutions that we do exist – to be our advocates. So, I give them a few extra flyers and ask that they share internally. Which I am confident many will. Another fun discovery: I always do a round of other exhibitors – in this case many Dutch ones – to look for and pick up information for DAISY. And, as they push flyers in my face, or try and engage me – I listen – and ask “Are you open to expats/internationals being clients?” Most say “of course”. I follow up and ask if they have an English website? No is often the response. Too expensive to translate the whole site is often the reason. So, I ask: “how exactly do expats/internationals know they are welcome?” Strangely enough this is followed by silence …. Which is my (our) chance to jump in and suggest that their entire site need not necessarily be in English, but there should be some sort of summary, indication that they are open to internationals – and perhaps at least one page in English and an invitation to call for more information would be doable. “When you have that we would be happy to include you in our database, until then though I am afraid we cannot send our clients to a site from which they will be left with more questions than answers.” And, I thank them for their time, and return their flyer … I wonder how many will follow this suggestion? And, then I realised, this too is part of how we can serve the international community – encouraging those who have products and services which may be of interest to consider being a bit more welcoming to internationals. Happy fair season,
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November
Events in November round the World All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows Day), a Christian holy day, is celebrated on November 1. The day before, Halloween, is therefore "All Hallows Eve". November 1 – Day of the leaders of the Bulgarian national revival In Ireland, November 1 is regarded as the first day of winter. November 1 is called November Day (Lá Samhna) in Celtic tradition and is thus named in the Irish Calendar, where the month is called Mí na Samhna. In the Christian calendar, November 2 is All Souls Day. It is known in Mexico as el Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), and the whole month of November is especially dedicated to praying for the dead In Indonesia, November 10 is known as National Heroes Day. Independence Day in Angola on November 11. Independence Day in Poland on November 11. Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours on November 11 (Sint Maarten in the Netherlands and Sankt Martin in Germany) See on the next page for more information on how the Dutch mark the day. Remembrance Day is celebrated on November 11 in the Commonwealth of Nations and various European countries (including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War I and other wars. It is known as Veterans Day in the United States. In India, Children's Day is celebrated on November 14, the birthdate of first Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14. The Leonids meteor shower reaches its peak around November 17. Latvian Independence day November 18. Discovery to the Eastern World of Puerto Rico by Christopher Columbus on November 19, 1493. International Men's Day is commemorated on the November 19. Día de la Revolución, or Revolution Day, is celebrated in Mexico on November 20. Independence Day in Lebanon on November 22. Rudolf Maister day in Slovenia on November 23. Suriname celebrates its Independence Day on November 25. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. Albanian Independence day is on November 28. Scotland celebrates St Andrews Day, its official national day, on November 30. Argentina celebrates the Day of National Sovereignty on November 20, to conmemorate the Vuelta de Obligado battle. It has been declared an official national holiday in 2010 The United States and Puerto Rico observe Thanksgiving on November 27. For Western Christians, Advent usually begins on a Sunday during the last week of November (the Sunday between November 27 and December 3).
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November
The festival of Sintmaarten The feastday of ‘Sintmaarten’ (Saint Martin of Tours) is celebrated in the Netherlands on 11 November. The rituals In the dark winter evening, small groups of children, usually accompanied by an adult, go in small processions through the streets. The children don’t get dressed up; it is a simple, friendly neighbourhood event. They hold small lanterns made from paper or turnips on sticks in front of them as they knock on doors and sing songs or recite little poems in exchange for bags of candy and fruit, in a ritual somewhat reminiscent of Halloween. A face is often carved into the turnip so the little candle placed inside shines through. If made of paper, this is usually decorated to look colourful and festive. The songs the children sing hint only vaguely at the origins of the feastday, often containing puzzling references or nonsense words. One song that is sung is: Sint Maarten, sint Maarten Saint Martin, Saint Martin De kooien hebben staarten, de meisjes hebben rokjes aan The cows have tails, the girls wear skirts Daar komt Sint Martinus aan There comes Saint Martin Origins The origins of the feastday have to do with its proximity to the middle of winter. The cows had been brought in from the fields and households had started up their stoves against the winter cold. The children celebrated the last remnants of the summer harvest with candlelit processions, during which the adults would give them nuts and candy as a final treat before the darkest days of winter. About St Martin St Martin was born in western Hungary, son of a Roman Army officer. St Martin also joined the army but was interested in christianity from an early age. The army took him all over Europe and the event which made him famous happened in Amiens, France. The Saint was riding towards the city gates when he noticed an old beggar at the side of the road, shivering in the freezing cold. The Saint observed him for a while and saw that no-one stopped to help him. So he drew his sword and cut his own cloak in half, giving half to the beggar. He could not give him all of his cloak as military regulations required him to have this at all times. The following night in a dream, he saw Jesus Christ wearing one half of his cloak. This vision made him resolve to devote his life to Christ and he got baptised immediately. He later established a small group of disciples in a remote cave, where he could pursue his vision of hermetic devotion to God. However, after a few years, the local bishop of Tours died and the locals all wanted Martin to be the new bishop. Ever the modest hermit, he tried to get out of it by fleeing the mob but was betrayed by some geese honking in the stable he was hiding in. Ever since, the traditional food to eat on St Martin’s day has been goose. His pursuers found him and had him made bishop in spite of the objections of local clerics, who considered him little more than a beggar himself. He went on to become one of the most successful evangelists of the early church and is now the patron saint of France.
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November
No sun - no moon! No morn - no noon No dawn - no dusk - no proper time of day. No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease, No comfortable feel in any member No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees, No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! November! Thomas Hood, 1844 This was one of my mother’s favourite poems! To counteract such negative thoughts here are some warm recommendations to help deal with the darker days. Regarding depressing November: I can only advise to make it nice and cosy at home. Light candles, read a good book while sitting/laying on the couch and covered by a plaid with a mug of hot chocolate milk next to you. If you celebrate Sinterklaas, it is fun to prepare something for it. Or make plans how to decorate your home for Xmas. If it is dry, a walk along the beach, through the dunes or a forest is great. Genoveva Gepaart
As the Fall takes over from summer, many people don’t want to think of the coming winter. They see a looming gloom rather than the brilliant beautiful colours of the leaves and the promise of family celebrations. They have the ‘winter blues’ and this can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is a mild to severe form of depression and is due to the decreased levels of serotonin in the brain. This can have many negative effects such as inconsistent sleep patterns, a weakened immune system, a change of diet leading to weight gain, and a general drop in energy levels. The lack of sunlight is not the only things we miss during the winter months – it is the fresh aroma of the outdoors that is also vital to our well-being and that we take for granted in the spring and summer. The use of essential oils and Aromatherapy helps to counteract these negative effects. Below are some aromas that will lift everyone’s spirits.
Citrus oils, cold pressed from the rind of orange, tangerine and grapefruit combined with frankincense make a wonderful scent that will lift the mood of the whole family. Orange is a particularly ‘happy’ oil. Add a few drops to distilled water and spritz the air or put a few drops onto cotton wool balls and place in a dish. Putting a few drops onto the soles of your feet will also help to put a spring into your step.
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November
Bergamot also banishes the winter blues. It is a gentler oil than orange with a touch of a floral scent. However, do take care if you go into the sun after putting it on your skin as it can blister the skin, but there isn’t much chance of that happening in the winter. Rosemary, peppermint, lemon, basil, ginger, tea tree and cypress can all help to alleviate fatigue and lack of energy. Try inhaling their aromas instead of drinking coffee. Lavender, clary sage, marjoram and linden berry all help calm irritability. Bergamot, juniper, lavender and celery seed oil help ease feeling bloated and when you have overeaten. Frankincense, cedarwood, sandalwood, jasmine, ylang ylang and neroli encourage positive emotions. Bernadette Davies
You can always contact Bernadette Davies for your own personal blend of oils. T:0704060389
November bliss – a very special message from Carina No such thing as November blues, at least not for all of us November Birthday ACCESS girls & boys: Bernadette, Khaled, Magdalini, Mary Jane, Mauren, Jac, Michael, Heiner, Ludmilla, Sally, Nuria, Jane, Neha and yours truly. Also a long expected addition to my personal Birthday list and life comes Mathilde - another November bliss I am certain. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank each and all of you for 5 awesome years. You, ACCESS, have truly been my family away from home, but now it is time to leave this nest and seek new adventures (like becoming a parent isn’t enough!?). In the very early start of 2015 we will move to London. So when I begin my maternity leave on 1 November I will also be saying cheerio and so long to my life and friends with ACCESS. Thank you all, thank you ACCESS for your friendship, your warmth, your professionalism, your capability to keep my sanity intact. Thank you! Carina Hyllested
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More Favourite Green Places and Cafés David Sander - I am a tea drinker and don't do drugs so the coffee shops are not for me! My favourite tea room is Scally's in Chinatown. It is a strange place with very bad portraits of the royal family on the walls. They serve loose leaf tea in proper teapots which you drink out of mismatched teacups and saucers, and they also serve homemade scones and cakes. It is a very laid back place where no-one is in a hurry. The patrons are mainly expats. Adista Mariana also recommends the other branch of Scally’s in Haagsche Bluf. Genoveva Gepaart - my favourite cafes are Pavlov on Spui., which has a fireplace inside and a nice terrace with sun and shade and a view of the grass in front of the church, and also Haagsche Bluf in the Haagsche Bluf (close to the Passage). It is a bit expensive, but when you can sit on the large roof terrace it is ideal. Also a nice quiet green place in the middle of town with a cafe/restaurant is the Nutstuin, (entrance in Jan Hendrikstraat next to the Ibis hotel) www.nutshuis.nl/verhuur/nutstuin. It is open on weekdays from 10 am to 5 pm. (It is closed at the weekends and on official holidays.) Genoveva’s favourite green spaces are Emma’s hof at the Gallileistraat, see www.emmashof.nl. A wonderful city garden in a neighbourhood with hardly any green. It is completely maintained by people living in the neighbourhood and serves as a meeting place for those living near the Gallileistraat. (note: Gallileistraat is near Beeklaan). A cosy hidden park is in the Wagenstraat (near Bijenkorf). At Wagenstraat 165, enter the culthe-sac. At the end there is a fence. Open it and you are in the garden. There is a picnic table and a small playground for children. A rabbit and a guinea pig live in the park so always close the fence behind you.
in Westbroekpark (near Madurodam) there is a nice outdoor lunchroom/teagarden called “de Waterkant”. You can enter the teagarden via the Westbroekpark or – very nice- via a bridge at the Haringkade which is manually operated. When I went there it felt as if I was somewhere in the countryside. See also. Note that the pont is now a bit more modern but the idea is still the same. It is even possible to rent a rowing boat. Miroslava Semigana has 2 favourite Italian restaurants – Giuliano’s at Schoolstraat 13a and Follia’s on Frederick 62. Both offer good food with exceptional service – what more can you ask!
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5 things you didn’t know about…Bulgaria
Nod - When asking a Bulgarian a question, you might be confused with his reply. In the country, nodding one's head up and down indicates a negative response, while shaking your head horizontally actually means 'no'. To confuse things even further, when locals speak with foreigners, they often accommodate them by reversing the motions. It is primarily the older generation that continues the nodding tradition, which dates back to Ottoman days.
Cyrillic - Bulgarians read and write using the Cyrillic alphabet, and the country actually is the origin of the alphabet, having adopted its use before Russia. Credit can be given to Saints Cyril and Methodius, born in the 9th century. The two brothers were Christian missionaries who used their alphabet in efforts to improve literacy among the Slavic pagans in the First Bulgarian Empire. The two brothers are the most celebrated saints in the Bulgarian Orthodox church.
Bulgarian Jews - Bulgaria sided with the Nazis in World War Two, yet its entire Jewish population, constituting over 40,000 citizens, was spared the horrors of the Holocaust. The Bulgarian Orthodox church, politicians and ordinary citizens took a stand against possible deportation. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for over 11,000 Jews deported to the concentration camps from Macedonia, an area under Bulgaria's control during the war. Gold - The oldest gold treasure in the world was discovered at a burial site west of Varna, not far from the Black Sea. Unearthed in 1972 by a tractor crew digging a ditch, the site proved to be a vast necropolis with nearly 300 graves dated to 4560-4450 BC. Some three thousand gold artifacts were found, proving that the settlement had trade relations with distant lands and that the community had a strong belief in the afterlife. Some of Bulgaria's gold has been on exhibition tours around the world.
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5 things you didn’t know about…Bulgaria
Martenitsa - If you happen to be in Bulgaria on March 1st, join in the celebrations of Baba Marta (Grandmother March). On this holiday welcoming the upcoming spring, Bulgarians exchange small tassels and bracelets of white and red yarn called martenitsa. These adornments are pinned to clothing or worn around the wrist until the person sees a stork or blooms on tree, both harbingers of spring's arrival.
Here is also a Bulgarian recipe using the grain bulgur. I am sure it is very tasty and very healthy. Bulgur with Leeks
20mins
Serves 4 Ingredients 150g/+5oz Prunes Hot Water 120ml/4fl.oz. Vegetable Oil 900g/2lb Leeks, sliced 225g/8oz Bulgar Wheat 1 teasp Paprika 600ml/20fl.oz. Boiling Water Salt Method 1. Place the prunes in a bowl, cover with hot water and set aside to soak. 2. Heat the oil together with about 2 tablespoons of water in a large saucepan, add the leeks, mix well and cook over a low/medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring. 3. Add the bulgur, paprika and boiling water. Mix well, bring to the boil then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Drain the prunes, add them to the bulgur and season with salt. Mix well and continue to cook for a further 5-10 minutes until the bulgur is tender, adding a little more water if necessary to prevent it drying out. Serve hot.
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5 uses you didn’t know about for…Baking Soda
Clean Brushes and Combs For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.
Scrub away marks on your wall. To do this, simply make a 50/50 paste of baking soda and water and find any scuff mark or crayon art on your painted wall, gently rub in and wipe away. You’ll see the marks are gone!
Deodorize your carpets. If you take a box of baking soda and sprinkle it over your carpets, then vacuum it up 30 minutes later, your room will be deodorized. Your vacuum will also get a clean treatment as a bonus!
Baking soda is a great laundry booster. It helps brighten and deodorize clothing. The next time you do a load of laundry, add in a cup of baking soda and see if you notice the difference. I love this trick; have used this myself a couple of times!
Submitted by Neha Khanna 12 ACCESS for & by volunteers November 2014
Clean and even unclog your smelly sink. When mixed with vinegar, baking soda can cut through almost anything. Add a cup of baking soda to any drain; let it sit for an hour. Then, boil 2 cups of vinegar and dump it down the drain, run hot water and your drain will not smell anymore, it’s pretty fantastic.
Departmental News
September/October 2014 THD – Magdalini Zografou Seven new Helpdesk volunteers joined the team in September: Cynthia, Michael, Renata T, Renata C, Jenny, Virginie and Deepleena. Zeestraat Helpdesk - The ACCESS Facebook Open Group that was initiated at Helpdesk in July has now 248 members and is slowly growing. We hope to build a larger community in the coming months. Antonio has worked tirelessly to ensure 100% coverage of the Zeestraat Helpdesk and finding buddies for the new volunteers. Thanks Antonio. The Hague International Centre - THIC was very busy during September, with the ‘Welcome to The Hague’ on the morning of 22nd, many appointments, and clients asking for help and information. As always, Annelies and the THIC volunteers have ensured that we achieved 100% coverage of the THIC ROTA. Thank you to Annelies and the team. THD Training - Thanks to Nuria and the training team for organising the training sessions for the new volunteers. Thanks also to all the volunteers who have been buddies at Helpdesk. OAD / Office Manager – Qin CEB (Bintou and Maria) Amsterdam: Nov/Dec - in total 11 couples registered and paid. Utrecht: October - in total 3 couples registered and paid November - 1 couple registered, not paid, but seems to be very interested. The Hague: September / October course has 18 couples. Classes are simultaneously run by both Nester and Lee. November / December course has so far 14 couples registered, this means that we are going to run 2 courses for that period as well. Rotterdam: September/ October course has 2 couples. November / December course has 2 couples so far. Welcome to The Hague – The third edition of 22 September was well attended, 88 registrations and 60 attendees. Overall feedback very positive. Many thanks to Aldo and the team, well done and you did ACCESS proud In-house presentation at TOTAL E&P Netherlands – On 23 September, Antonio, Caitriona, Nuria and Qin attended the presentation on behalf of ACCESS. A group of 15-16 women, mainly 13 ACCESS for & by volunteers November 2014
Departmental News
wives and partners of TOTAL’s new employees and a few partners of current employees, took part. The presentation covered ACCESS services, cross cultural understanding and practical topics like Dutch healthcare system, childcare, transportation, social and cultural activities and partner support. It was well received from the participants. CSN – John Pellet The website stats for September are as follows: 31,005 Visits 17,730 Unique Visitors (compared to 15,643 in August , a more than 2000 visitors in rise ;-)) 42.82 Returning Visitors (%) 00:05:21 Ave Time on Site As PerfectView needed more time to make design changes to their system to incorporate DAISY to make it available in THIC, some work has been done on our existing version to make it available in THIC vith a better User Interface on the web browser than for the original trial. Following the positive comments from the THIC team, it has now been made available to the HD in LvM so they can use either the original version or the web version which does have some advantages in the way the information is displayed. Communications – Carina Hyllested/ Christopher an-Traumer 2015 E-zine - A call for help and submission is being put together to bolster our roster of contributors for the 2015 Ezines. We're hoping to get new ideas and fresh talent on board for future publications. Winter E-zine 2014 - We're currently on track with the current Winter Ezine. Thanks to everyone on the editorial staff for their commitment and hard work. We look forward to another interesting edition! IRD – Heiner Pierenkemper & Arto Salojarvi Team - On September 30th we had an interview with Ruchi as a potential new team member. She will let us know whether to join the IRD or not after her vacation. Partners - Updates are being made by Heiner regularly as usual. Updating DAISY - 195 records (excluding VRD entries) were modified and 18 were added to DAISY in September. We are intensifying our efforts to improve the quality of the entries in DAISY. Our team member Mauren pays special attention to this. Outdated entries are being removed or updated. It is very positive that DAISY can now also be used at the THIC. Heiner will give the THIC team an introduction especially focused on the search functions. It would be desirable for the IRD to get more feedback from everybody, especially the helpdesk and / or the THIC about necessary corrections, updates etc.
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Departmental News
VRD – Neha Khanna Departmental changes - We now have a new enthusiastic, motivated team member John Fields who agreed to take on the role of Assistant Manager in the VRD. The team now consists of 5 members – Neha, John, Miroslava, Cornelia and Adista. Information Morning - The information morning of September resulted in the recruitment of 8 new volunteers, of which one will be invited to attend the training sessions in November. The next information morning will be held on Wednesday 5 th November 2014. Social Events - The ACCESS Social Drinks at Gusto Restaurant on 26th September was well attended and was a big success. The next social event is ACCESS Potluck Lunch is taking place on 29th of October on Wednesday from 12:15-2:45 at Laan van Meerdervoort 70. Events/Discounts offered promoted for ACCESS Partners We have been offered some free tickets/spots and discounts for ACCESS volunteers for below events as part of partnership agreement with ACCESS, in return for listing their events on our website, or as gifts: 1. GG14 - Young theatre talent from Britain 2. Chet Baker Concert with Rachael Gould at the COS JAZZ Connection 3. Greg Shapiro Presents: Desiree Burch Netherlands Comedy tour 4. ENDLESS SUMMER Beach Party 5. Indian Dance Festival 6. Halloween Divas by Superb Events 7. Indian Film Festival VRD Statistics as on 1st October Total Volunteers as of this month - including CED/CEB/CSN: 129 Number of volunteers who left during the month: 4 Number of Volunteer nationalities as of this month: 30 Events – Roy Lie ISH event - On Saturday 20 Sept.2014 we participated in the Welcome back fair and picnic at the ISH. It was a great opportunity for ACCESS to showcase what she does for the international community. Our bookmarks and E-zines were well received. Positive feedback has been received from some ISH board members. Upcoming events in October and November 2015 18/10 DELFIADE 2/11 I Am Not a Tourist, double fair 11/11 ICP The Career Plaza 13/11 SHELL Outpost Canadian Embassy, pending Volunteers are needed for these shows CSN – Brenda Couture
The group welcomed three new members at the quarterly meeting in September: Rakhi Chand, Steve Davies and Clint Steenveld
CSN now has 20 active members
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Departmental News
CancerLink – Aine Campbell To mark Breast Cancer Awareness month, Cancerlink organised another Cookery Workshop with nutritionist Kyrin Hall and chef Ivo Schellen. This was on Sun, Oct, 5 th, in the Amsterdam Art Center (www.amsterdamartcenter.nl ) The facilities include a large commercial kitchen, which was made available at a reduced rental. The theme was “Cooking with Superfoods”. The event was well attended with 14 enthusiastic participants. The venue was very impressive and people had an opportunity to see round the center and view the Art work. Mike Bosman , the manager, is happy to sponsor these events in the future. We are continuing to advertise for an ACCESS volunteer who would also like to support the work of Cancerlink. We had one new Cancerlink contact in Aug and none in Sept. CED – Christine Fischer
Strategic Planning is progressing with Tejashri Vanessa P is not renewing as a trainer. Dora, new trainer is very active Helen, as a trainer is getting opportunities left, right, & center.
ADV / FND – Thais Pagani The FND department is happy to have Fonte Totaro as our new FND assistant and Priya continues to be our ADV assistant. We have a meeting scheduled for Tuesday Oct 14th between FND and ADV to review roles and responsibilities. We are currently working on a department flow chart to clarify steps and procedures. In addition, we are reviewing all partner contact information and main-streaming it into one single file. Also working on standardized e-mails to be used in communicating with partners. Many thanks to Qin for helping us in these past weeks with the coordination of partners flyers and the THIC office. Thanks also to Loredana for helping us at the THIC side. FIN – David Sanders Adista has joined the department. The department now consists of 3 volunteers: D.Sanders Adista Rohini The department is currently producing an operations manual and description of processes and objectives.
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Volunteer of the month
CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Volunteer of the Month November 2014 The Management Team on behalf of ACCESS would like to thank you for your continued commitment and everything you do for helping with the international community in the Netherlands. Your contributions of time, dedication, hard-work and talent ensure the continued success in fulfilling the mission, vision and goals of ACCESS.
HIMA MEHTA You made the difference!! It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Hima with the ACCESS Volunteer of the month for November 2014 “It surprises me that Hima is the youngest volunteer on our volunteers' list. She has been a fulltime student when she joined ACCESS before summer, and is now back to be a full time student to pursue her MA degree, but decided to continue volunteering with us as she enjoys her experience with us so much. Her maturity, sensibility, willingness to help no matter what, and her professional attitude make her stand out among other volunteers. She represents the spirit of volunteering which are commitment, dedication, reliability and the simple pleasure of helping others who are in needs. Thank you Hima for all your contributions and continued support with the work we do at ACCESS.” Qin Cai “Hima has been an exemplary volunteer at the Helpdesk. Being the youngest member of our team, she showed maturity and professionalism beyond her years. She was always eager to help her fellow colleagues and buddy them, giving off positive and friendly energy around the office. Thank you so much Hima for all your hard work and many congratulations!”
Magdalini Zografou
Congratulations Hima! 17 ACCESS for & by volunteers November 2014
Vacancies - November
ACCESS OPEN VACANCIES - November Communications Department - Email Marketing Specialist - Mail Chimp The Email Marketing Specialist is responsible for hands-on execution of email marketing efforts in support of the Communications Department objectives. This includes the maintenance, editing, and creation of email marketing campaigns. Additionally, this individual maintains a current understanding of email marketing best practices and applies them to the execution of our email campaigns.
- Co- Web Editor The ACCESS Co-web editor is responsible for keeping the content of the website harmonised regarding the web style guide, sourcing/editing/creating new content and ensuring that content is regularly updated (in order to optimise our SEO and serve our clientele. The Co-Web Editor will also manage the webeditor@access-nl.org email account. Contact Carina/Christopher: communications@access-nl.org For all positions: You must be a self starter, self motivator, computer literate and driven by initiative and creativity. Cancer Support - Admin/Promoter 6-10 hours per month, so could be combined with another function within ACCESS. Includes the following responsibilities: Maintaining awareness of Cancerlink within ACCESS- checking supply of publicity material, ensuring distribution at key events, checking posting of events/news on website & social media Identifying key contacts in cancer centres, schools, social clubs and maintaining/updating mailing list Helping with admin-attending monthly meetings and writing, distributing minutes Helping with organising and publicizing workshops. Should you interested contact Cancerlink Co-ordinator Aine Campbell: ainecamp@hotmail.com
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Vacancies - November
Project Department -PowerPoint Presentation for The Hague Do you live in these expats neighbourhoods in The Hague? – Statenkwartier, Bezuidenhout, Benoordenhout, Scheveningen, Valkenbos Kwartier, Kijkduin, Centre (around Buurtschap, Dennenweg and Zeehelden Kwartier), if you do, and would like to share your local knowledge with fellow ACCESS colleagues, and work together in preparing this presentation for other international new arrivals, then this is the opportunity for you! We would really appreciate the participation from all of you. Please send your comments to, or contact Qin: manager@access-nl.org, or ask Qin directly for more details. We are making progress with this project, but we need more help! – please offer your knowledge and tips in helping making the PowerPoint presentations, we can help provide you with a photographer to take pictures. It is fun to work on this project ;-)
NOTE: New volunteers must finish the probationary month before applying for any vacancy.
Expat History of the Hague Exhibition 2015 Call for Volunteers An exciting new exhibition offering a fresh insight into expatriate The Hague is being organised by ACCESS, the Expatriate Archive Centre (EAC) and the Municipal Archives of The Hague. The exhibition has the working title of “Expat History of The Hague” and will take place from 26 October until 14 November 2015 in The Hague City Hall. The aim of this exhibition is to show The Hague as seen through the eyes of expats who call and called this city home. The Municipal Archives of The Hague and the EAC house, among many other collections, materials describing expatriate life in The Hague during different periods of time. ACCESS serves the needs and interests of the current expatriate community in the Netherlands. An exhibition about how expats view The Hague is a perfect opportunity to bring these three special organisations together. The exhibition material will be in English and Dutch. There are different ways to get involved in this initiative. You can submit a piece that could be used in this exhibition or decide to join the organising team and help to make this event a success
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Vacancies - November
Call for material: ACCESS and the Expatriate Archive Centre (EAC) are looking for material that could be used in this exhibition. Our aim is to show The Hague as seen through the eyes of expats who call, or once called, this city home. Requirements. We are looking for excerpts from letters, diaries, blogs, emails etc., describing your impressions of The Hague as an expat. Photos supporting your impressions are most welcome. We are particularly interested in pieces that are 25 years or older. You can submit materials in English or Dutch. Submission deadline: 31 December 2014. All submissions should be sent to events@xpatarchive.com with mentioned in the subject “Expat History of The Hague”. Selection: The EAC and ACCESS will go through the submissions and will notify the selected candidates. Call for volunteers: ACCESS and the Expatriate Archive Centre (EAC) are looking for volunteers who would like to assist us with the organisation of the exhibition. The work can be divided in the following areas: gathering, analysis and selection of the material; preparation of exhibits; logistics related to production of the exhibits; organisation of the opening event; promotion and marketing. Profile: - enthusiastic, proactive, able to work independently; - interested in the work area of ACCESS and the EAC; - background in history, event management, graphic design, exhibition curation or other related areas; - fluent in English, knowledge of Dutch is an advantage; - available until November 2015. To apply: please send your CV and a brief motivation to events@xpatarchive.com. Please identify the area of work you are interested in. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via events@xpatarchive.com. To learn more about the EAC, go to www.xpatarchive.com and about the Municipal Archives of The Hague go to www.gemeentearchief.denhaag.nl. 20 ACCESS for & by volunteers November 2014
Volunteer Feature
Dear All, I will start telling you about my relationship with the Netherlands first. It all started in 1989 when my step father got transferred from Bogotá, where I was born, to The Hague. There were some difficult security issues with Shell in Colombia, so we were moved to the HQ here in The Hague. Those were strange times, when the Berlin wall still existed and Holland was more into socialism than it is now. We lived in the Benoordenhout neighbourhood in a corner house; first time for me to get used to those high stairs and cold winters, even though Bogotá is not tropical I must say. (It is a flat mountain at 2600 mts over the sea level). I went back to Colombia on my own when I was sixteen, and continued my studies in an American school in Bogotá. After finishing my studies I joined the army for the mandatory military service for one year, then entered the Pontifical Xaverian University to study Architecture; I did it for five years, when I decided to move back to Holland, this time to Amsterdam, to start different studies at HES Hogeschool in 2002; it only lasted one year, when the winter made me change my mind and I moved to Costa del Sol, in the south of Spain, where I did studies in Graphic Design, in a British study plan from the University of Wales in Málaga (EADE), and Photography in Apertura Academy. I lived both in Málaga and Marbella for ten years but once again I decided to move back to Holland, this time to Leiden, in 2012 to see if I could start a Master degree in Leiden University about Film and Photography. After all the paper work and interviews. It didn´t happened because my interest was very practical and their masters is very academic and trains students to be curators rather than creators in their own right. I moved to The Hague once again in 2013 to live in the city centre, close to every single cultural activity as possible. A good friend of my mother, who was an expat as well in the 80´s and 90´s in The Hague, told me about ACCESS and how it served the International Community, so I decided to join in and be a volunteer with a smile. From the experience I got as a Photographer and Graphic Designer for more than seven years, I turned into a Digital Artist. My latest exhibition was at the Tate Britain in London in August this year, was a series of collage artworks dedicated to Mick Jagger, who is one of my favourite musicians. As for the Netherlands, I´m glad I live now in the land of famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh, and that there are so many museums and galleries to visit. After all, the weather in Holland can be coped with as long as you wear a nice big jacket. Visit my webpage for Photography and Digital Artwork: www.bennu-corbishley.artistwebsites.com Greetings, Bennu Corbishley Barrera
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Volunteer Feature
Hello everyone! I’m Anca, I’m from Romania and I’ve been living in The Netherlands for 3 years. I joined the ACCESS team in June this year as a Helpdesk volunteer. After a quiet summer, in August I also joined the PR team and since then my journey at ACCESS has become tremendously exciting. I am currently working in the Training Department and have been recently embraced by the THIC team. But let’s go back to three years ago...In 2010, after graduating from my masters studies in Medical Physics I decided I needed a change and a break at the same time from what it was back then Romania. So, at the beginning of 2011 I ended up in this northern-european country living with a Dutch family as an au-pair. My experience with them was an important step in my life because it was for the first time I was living away from my parents’ home and in a foreign country. Even though I had to struggle with the culture shock and was homesick every now and then, I enjoyed most of the time living there. I think one of the moments that remained impressed in my memory was the way this family celebrated Sinter Klaas. A few weeks before the holiday we had our names written on pieces of paper and mixed in a bowl. Everyone had to pick one and keep the name secret. For the person you got on your paper you had to prepare a surprise, something made up from paper board or other materials, that would be representative for that person (for example I had to make a surprise for the father who was travelling a lot, so I made him a trolley). In addition, we had to write a funny poem about the person and they had to read it out loud. Then there were presents and sweet treats and Dutch people would say “gezelligheid”. So, after two years of pure Dutch culture I returned to my home country and realised I had somehow got attached to this windy little land. This is why I then moved to The Hague a year ago. I’m now giving Maths lessons and trying to learn as many new things as possible. The fact that I live in this international city gives me a wide range of choices. Not only can I enjoy all the facilities of a big city but also can relax in the green areas or even better...breath the fresh air of the sea.
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Your fellow Volunteers
JOIN ‘ACCESS VOLUNTEERS’ GROUP ON WE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO:
Anca Monica Ion Bozena Pajek Marian Hartzema Yenifer Nahar Vanessa Prins-Goodman
A Facebook group for ACCESS volunteers has been created, it is called ‘ACCESS volunteers’, search for it (ACCESS in uppercase!) or use below link. Please do join!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! November Birthdays 2nd Bernadette Davis rd 3 Khaled Khaled th 7 Magdalini Zografou 8th Mary Jane Roy th 9 Mauren Lopez Pons th 10 Jac Rongen 12th Michael Eerens th 16 Heinrich Pierenkemper st 21 Ludmila Dias Andrade st 21 Sally Squirrell rd 23 Nuria Garcia th 24 Carina Hyllested th 24 Jane Meijer-Zhang th 29 Neha Khanna
www.facebook.com/groups/308062515897693
ACCESS Information Morning: ACCESS social media
The next Information morning will be held on Wednesday 5th November 2014. All potential volunteers must first contact VRD before attending the information morning. Enquiries about volunteering should be forwarded to vrd@access-nl.org ACCESS EVENTS in November: Drinks! Time and place to be announced.
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What’s on in November .
Museum Night Amsterdam On the first Saturday in November every year (this year it is 1st November), about 50 museums in Amsterdam open their doors from 19:00 to 02:00 and organise special events including workshops, concerts, special tours and performances. Tasty food and drink is also on hand to help keep your energy levels up. Welcome to Museum Night, or, as Amsterdammers simply know it, the 'n8' http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/Ndtrc/Museumnacht Where: Amsterdam When: November 1st 2014
Laan van Meerdervoort Run 2014 The Parnassia Laan van Meerdervoort Run in The Hague is a real challenge. The courses of 10K and 5K take runners along asphalt, a running track, dune paths and the beach. For children there are several different Kids Runs of 1K and a 350-metre run for pre-schoolers. A dose of energy is guaranteed by live music along the course and at the start and finish in Kijkduin. The 5K run 10K run are open to both professional as well as recreational runners. Both of these runs start at 13.00 hrs. In addition, company teams can participate in the Business Run http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/news-and-events/to/Laan-van-Meerdervoort-Run-2014.htm Where: Den Haag When: November 2nd 2014
GLOW Eindhoven From 8 until 15 November 2014 Eindhoven will once again be completely immersed in the light art festival GLOW. The theme of the ninth edition is ‘City in Motion’. The work of around fifty artists in the form of light installations, sculptures, projections and performances provide the public with a surprising new angle on the city. GLOW is free to everyone and last year it attracted no fewer than 520,000 visitors. http://www.gloweindhoven.nl/website/glow/glow.php?gshow=order&eventId=23&Curr=1&action=home &lId=2 Where: Eindhoven When: November 8th to November 15th 2014
Crossing Border The Hague Crossing Border is the festival where literature, music, film and the visual arts are combined. For several days writers, poets, musicians, filmmakers and artists will reign over The Hague's cultural center. Crossing Border The Hague is one of Europe’s main international literature and music festivals. http://www.crossingborderfestival.nl/en/ Where: The Hague When: November 13th to November 16th 2014
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What’s on in November
Sinterklaas arriving The programme kicks off at approximately 10.30 in the Scheveningen Harbour and the good bishop's steamboat, the Pakjesboot 070, enters the harbour at around 11.15. Once Sinterklaas and his helpers come on shore, they will be officially received by Mayor Jozias van Aartsen of The Hague and the Spanish Ambassador to the Netherlands, H.E. Fernando Arias González. From Scheveningen Harbour a procession will wind its way through The Hague starting at 12.30 in the Vissershavenweg and ending at the Escher Museum on the Lange Voorhout at approximately 16.30 where families will be treated to a number of live performances. The entertainment on the Lange Voorhout, including all kinds of circus acts, lasts from 15.30 to 17.00. http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/news-and-events/to/Sinterklaas-arriving-on-15-November.htm Where: Den Haag When: November 15th 2014
Verdi’s Requiem A magnificent requiem with volumes of sound, directed by Japanese conductor Chosei Komatsu with a choir and orchestra of more than 200. Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie. http://www.ldt.nl Where: Dr Anton Philipzaal When: November 25th 2014
Maastricht Christmas Market Maastricht is a great place to enjoy ‘the good life’ at any time of the year but it’s even more magical during the holiday season. During this period, several Christmas markets themed ‘Magical Maastricht’ are held throughout the city. http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/activities/events/november-1/maastricht-christmas-market.htm Where: Maastricht When: November 29th 2014 to December 30th 2014
Portrait Gallery of the Golden Age The exhibition Portrait Gallery of the Golden Age will open in Hermitage Amsterdam from 29 November 2014 until the end of 2016. The presentation features over thirty group portraits dating from the 17th century. These enormous paintings originate from the Amsterdam Museum and Rijksmuseum and are accompanied by other paintings and objects. Together they illustrate the story of collective citizenship that typifies the Netherlands. These "brothers and sisters" of the Night Watch are unique in the world and rarely seen due to their size. Thanks to a special partnership between the Amsterdam Museum, Rijksmuseum and Hermitage Amsterdam, these masterpieces will be visible to a large international audience. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/press/press-releases/on-display-at-hermitage-amsterdam-from-29november-2014-portrait-gallery-of-the-golden-age Where: Amsterdarm When: November 29th 2014 to End 2016
A HUGE thank you to Hima for continuing to compile the What’s On when she is very busy studying. 25 ACCESS for & by volunteers December 2013
Workshops & More
Fireside Seminars
Courses Courses Fireside Chats
€ 10 per person
Weekly Discussion Group: Each meeting will cover a new topic on diversity ranging from racial identity, ethnic identity, racism, gender, orientation, accessibility, to power issues and much more. Dates & Locations announced on FischersFiresideChats on Facebook: Fireside Seminars
€ 550 per person
A deep exploration of the pervasive influence diversity has on one’s own identity. Each seminar will focus on a particular piece of research/literature in the diversity field. Seminars are done on demand and can be held at the ACCESS office or at alternate locations. Diversity: The Key to Ethical and Effective Practice In cooperation with ICC, an ABvC accredited seminar has been set up. The seminar explores the work: Understanding Race, Ethnicity, & Power by Elaine Pinderhughes. Students should order and purchase this item themselves. Delivery can take time so best to order this item at least a month in advance of the seminar. For dates and more information see the ICC website:http://icconnections.org/info/workshops/workshops.html. Dates & Locations announced on FischersFiresideChats on Facebook: FischersFiresidechats - fostering informative multicultural discussions characterized by a warm, intimate, and informal tone www.fischersfiresidechats.com Twitter @FischerFireside Den Haag
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info@fischersfiresidechats.com Facebook FischersFiresideChats
Other activities that ACCESS Volunteers do when not working for ACCESS
Aromatherapist You can always contact Bernadette Davis for your own personal blend of oils tel: 070 4060389.
nuriagsaorin@gmail.com
(+31) 0681 49 46 66
Anne Craig English English teacher, editor and proofreader annecraigenglish@gmail.com (+31) 0617930645
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Books
Mutant Message Down Under: a Women’s Journey into Dreamtime Australia By Marlo Morgan, Harper Collins, 1995 This book is a bestseller and translated into more than 20 languages but also faces a lot of critics as it claims to be a true story while it is purely fiction. An American doctor (Marlo Morgan herself) who works in Australia is invited by Aboriginals and expects a festive lunch. However, it appears to be very different. She goes on a “walkabout”, a three-month journey through the Australian nature on bare feet and living from what nature offers such as insects. During this journey, she faces physical challenges, but spiritual ones as well. Aboriginals consider themselves as Real People, who already exist since the first men came on earth. They consider Western people as ‘mutant’. The author learns that these Aboriginals do not use words but telepathy to communicate. She becomes a witness to their essential way of being in a world based on the ancient wisdom and philosophy of a culture that is more than 50,000 years old. Review by Genoveva Gepaart The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton Has anyone seen the dolls houses in the Gemeente Museum and the Rijksmuseum? They are astonishing works of craftsmanship. This is an intriguing fictional story based on one of these houses which is in the Rijksmuseum and was owned by Petronella Oortman . A young, newly married girl of 18 (Petronella) arrives to live in her new grand home on the Herengracht in Amsterdam in October 1686. The house is full of secrets. Her wealthy merchant husband has delivered as a wedding present a doll’s house – the house is a replica in miniature of their real house. Miniature dolls and furniture then start to arrive, which appear to foretell disturbing events. It provides an enlightening and alternative view (conflicting morals, trading tensions, the importance of appearance) of the Golden Age. Review by Anne Craig
-Thank
you to all the contributors to the November Newsletter-
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