Piotr was born in Poland. When he was 20, he came to the Netherlands. He’s now lived in Amsterdam for 15 years and has exchanged his Polish passport for a Dutch one. He works in the hospitality industry, studies psychology, and is an active volunteer with the Barka in The Netherlands. His experience with Barka has been enriching for him.
“It’s so important that people in need have somewhere to go where someone truly listens to them. Many people run into problems simply because they don’t know their rights. That’s why we provide advice and information. It can make the difference between having a roof over your head or not.”
In hospitality, Piotr has noticed how openly people share their life stories and problems with him. With his psychology studies, he hopes to build a foundation to help people professionally in the future. He’s studying in Poland for a practical reason: it’s much cheaper. That’s why he travels to Poland at least once a month. Balancing work and volunteering with this is challenging.
“It’s a matter of good planning. Sometimes I work one day a week, sometimes two days for Barka. I can also take calls from home. That adds up to 20 to 30 calls in just a few hours.”
When Piotr came to the Netherlands, he didn’t have a solid plan.
“The Netherlands wasn’t my first choice. I speak German fairly well, so I actually wanted to go to Germany or Austria. A friend of mine got me excited about the Netherlands. I could start working in hospitality right away because I had all the necessary papers and certificates.”
He settled in well — he was able to buy a house in Amsterdam 10 years ago and quickly found his place in Dutch society. Unfortunately, not everyone who comes here looking for work or a better future has the same experience. Piotr is very aware of that.
As part of his psychology degree, Piotr had to complete an internship. That’s how he ended up at Barka two years ago as an intern — and he stayed on. He now volunteers at the Support and Information Center in Utrecht, where he helps people — mostly migrants from Central and Eastern Europe, but also from Spain and Portugal — who are in crisis or facing difficulties.
“Many people come to us saying they’re being evicted because they’ve lost their job. They often don’t realize they still have four weeks to stay and use that time to look for alternative housing.”
Piotr informs foreign temporary workers about their rights and also works closely with the Dutch Foundation for the Compliance of Collective Labour Agreements for Temporary Workers (SNCU). He connects people to legal aid (Juridisch Loket) or consults with Barka’s psychologist if he suspects someone needs mental health support.
“I never pressure anyone — and more importantly, I always remain neutral. No matter what someone shares or what their background is — that doesn’t matter to me.”
People tell him a lot, though sometimes there is some hesitation. The Support and Information Center can get busy, and people can feel uncomfortable if others might overhear. Still, he takes the time to listen and ask follow-up questions.
“I never pressure anyone — and more importantly, I always remain neutral. No matter what someone shares or what their background is — that doesn’t matter to me.”
Working at Barka has given Piotr a lot.
“I learn new things every day — about benefits, laws, and the situation of homeless people. There are so many misconceptions about homelessness. Not everyone who’s homeless is addicted. Sometimes things go wrong just because someone loses their job and doesn’t know their rights. And then the problems begin.”
Piotr hopes to keep working with Barka for a long time.
“If you really want to help people, Barka is the right place. You can learn a lot, always get help from colleagues, and build connections with many organizations.”
He still has one wish on his list: to visit the Barka organization in Poland.
“I’ve already met many of the Leaders. They’re truly good people — I’m really impressed by them, so I definitely want to visit someday.”
