{"id":5367,"date":"2025-02-11T14:41:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T14:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/barkanl.org\/?p=5367"},"modified":"2025-04-22T10:27:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T10:27:50","slug":"volunteer-piotr-wrobel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barkanl.org\/en\/volunteer-piotr-wrobel\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer testimony: Piotr Wrobel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Piotr was born in Poland. When he was 20, he came to the Netherlands. He\u2019s 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.
\n“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\u2019s why we provide advice and information. It can make the difference between having a roof over your head or not.”<\/h3>\n

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\u2019s studying in Poland for a practical reason: it\u2019s much cheaper. That\u2019s why he travels to Poland at least once a month. Balancing work and volunteering with this is challenging.
\n“It\u2019s 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.”<\/p>\n

\"\"

When Piotr came to the Netherlands, he didn\u2019t have a solid plan.
\n“The Netherlands wasn\u2019t 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.”
\nHe settled in well \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

As part of his psychology degree, Piotr had to complete an internship. That\u2019s how he ended up at Barka two years ago as an intern \u2014 and he stayed on. He now volunteers at the Support and Information Center in Utrecht, where he helps people \u2014 mostly migrants from Central and Eastern Europe, but also from Spain and Portugal \u2014 who are in crisis or facing difficulties.
\n“Many people come to us saying they\u2019re being evicted because they\u2019ve lost their job. They often don\u2019t realize they still have four weeks to stay and use that time to look for alternative housing.”
\nPiotr 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\u2019s psychologist if he suspects someone needs mental health support.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I never pressure anyone \u2014 and more importantly, I always remain neutral. No matter what someone shares or what their background is \u2014 that doesn\u2019t matter to me.”<\/em><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

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.
\n“I never pressure anyone \u2014 and more importantly, I always remain neutral. No matter what someone shares or what their background is \u2014 that doesn\u2019t matter to me.”<\/p>\n

Working at Barka has given Piotr a lot.
\n“I learn new things every day \u2014 about benefits, laws, and the situation of homeless people. There are so many misconceptions about homelessness. Not everyone who\u2019s homeless is addicted. Sometimes things go wrong just because someone loses their job and doesn\u2019t know their rights. And then the problems begin.”<\/p>\n

Piotr hopes to keep working with Barka for a long time.
\n“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.”
\nHe still has one wish on his list: to visit the Barka organization in Poland.
\n“I\u2019ve already met many of the Leaders. They\u2019re truly good people \u2014 I\u2019m really impressed by them, so I definitely want to visit someday.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Piotr was born in Poland. When he was 20, he came to the Netherlands. 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