Return to Eritrea
The Dutch government has money for people who return independently. Various organisations can apply for this money for you. It is paid out partly in the form of goods and services (in kind). At some organisations, for example, you can take a short training course to learn a certain trade, and at other organisations you can receive assistance in working out a future plan and at others obtain tools for your own business. The financial value of the support in goods or services is the same at each organisation. You can only apply to one organisation at a time. The government monitors this.
What contributions are there?
The contributions for returning to Eritrea are:
- €1800 for an adult, of which no more than €300 in cash.
- €2800 for a child travelling along or an unaccompanied minor, of which no more than €300 in cash.
For example: a family of 2 adults and one minor child will receive €1800 + €1800 + €2800 = €6400. Of this total amount no more than €900 will be paid in cash.
Which organisations assist with return?
- The Dutch Council for Refugees supports you based on the project Met Opgeheven Hoofd (With Head Held High) in thinking about your future possibilities but does not provide return assistance to Eritrea. We would be happy to discuss the reasons or problems that are causing you to consider returning to Eritrea. We can put you in touch with another organization.
- Goedwerk Foundation offers solutions for return aimed at your personal situation. The team of Goedwerk Foundation consists experts, social workers and trainers who speak English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Farsi, Pashtu and Dari. Together with you they carefully prepare your return and offer support in, for example, obtaining documents, an embassy visit, medical assistance, contact with family members and making a future plan to invest the funds. In addition, they can offer guidance on the flight if necessary. Goedwerk Foundation uses partner organizations (via the network of the Dutch Council for Refugees) in various countries of origin and also has its own network of returnees in various countries.
- IOM , Internationale Organisation for Migration, can help you to resume your life at home again after you return. Via IOM, after your return for example you can invest in housing, training or a business. You will not receive cash for this, but you will spend the in-kind scheme in cooperation with the IOM office in your country of origin.
- Stichting WereldWijd supports participants in starting their own business. People who participate in the WereldTools (WorldTools) project receive a crate of materials, tools and machines in order to return to work as soon as possible after returning to their country of origin. WereldWijd and IOM work together to arrange this, so you can make a good start.
- Solid Road offers support through personal coaching and guidance in the Netherlands and, together with you, makes a plan for spending your funds. Solid Road also offers guidance at Schiphol on the day of departure and in the country of origin, by partner organizations that help you build a new life. You can also follow training in the Netherlands (free of charge) so you can learn a trade in order to provide for yourself after your return. Solid Road has employees who speak Arabic, Kurdish, English, French, Dutch and German.
- Stichting ROS has projects including Vice Versa. With this project you can receive support if you return voluntarily to your country of origin, aimed at your personal situation. Together with a return coach from your own country, you prepare for your return, you make a future plan together and see how you want to spend the return funds. You can undergo training or take a course so that you can start working after you return. After you return you will be assisted by a partner in your country of origin, via the network of Vluchtelingenwerk (ERSO) or IOM.
Which cooperation partners are there in your country of origin?
VluchtelingenWerk works together with partner organisations in various countries that can give you information on the situation in your country and can support and assist you when you return. VluchtelingenWerk does not consider the circumstances safe for returning to Eritrea. We therefore have no cooperation partner in Eritrea to assist you.
Other organisations sometimes do have a partner in Eritrea that could assist you on your return. For more information, please contact these organisations or ask your counsellor from the VluchtelingenWerk about this.
Goedwerk Foundation cooperates with a partner organization in Eritrea.