Stichting Mondiale Samenleving (SMS)
Stichting Mondiale Samenleving (SMS) is an organisation of and for refugees in the Netherlands. SMS was formed on the initiative of three refugee organisations - CRAN (Coordinating Council for Albanians in the Netherlands), Stichting DIR (an Ethiopian refugee organisation) and FAVON (Federation of Afghan Refugee Organisations in the Netherlands) - and Kontakt der Kontinenten. SMS was founded in January 2002 and today has a network of over 150 refugee organisations. SMS aims to contribute to the fullest and best possible integration and socio-economic participation of refugees and migrants in all sections of Dutch society. To achieve this goal, SMS organises a variety of activities for refugee and migrant organisations, including training courses and conferences. The themes vary from cadre formation and building up capacity to development partnerships, European affairs, volunteer work, healthcare, culture and the environment. In this way, it meets a need felt by many refugees to remain involved in the reconstruction and development of their country of origin, while simultaneously participating in Dutch society. SMS has a head office in Utrecht and two branches in Leiden and Nijmegen. In the near future another branch will be set up in Maastricht. SMS runs a helpdesk where refugee organisations, migrant organisations, social organisations and (local) government authorities can obtain information, support and guidance. It can answer questions from refugee organisations concerning organisational structure, project formation, acquisition of funds, networking and organising activities. In addition, social organisations and (local) governmental bodies can contact the refugee organisations and learn about their activities via the SMS helpdesk. This helpdesk also has a databank at its disposal with the addresses of refugee and social organisations and of (local) governmental agencies that are involved in integration, development partnerships, culture, the environment and volunteer work. Within INFOCON, SMS will be an important help in mapping transnational communities in the Netherlands and share its expertise on all related subjects with the RTD performers.
SMS Utrecht
Hollantlaan 6
3526 AM Utrecht