What is Cocktail?

Cocktail is a social network developed by COC for LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender and Intersex) asylum seekers, refugees, and newcomers.

 

What are Cocktail’s goals?

  • Cocktail wants to help reduce the isolation that LGBTI newcomers might feel in their community and introduce them into the Dutch society in a safe way.
  • Cocktail wants to help improve the social climate for/and the safety of, LGBTI newcomers and migrants in the Netherlands.

 

LGBTI people are being discriminated against and threatened in large parts of the world. In some countries they are imprisoned or even sentenced to death. Often fleeing is the only option. They have to leave family and friends behind for an uncertain future in a strange country. In addition, the sexual orientation or gender identification of LGBTI refugees is often not accepted or tolerated by their fellow newcomers, just like in their country of origin. This can lead to severe forms of threat, isolation, feelings of anxiety, depression or worse.

 

Social activities

By organizing meetings and activities Cocktail wants to create a social network where people can be themselves and feel accepted. This is hopefully a pleasant way of integrating into Dutch (LGBTI) society.

 

Information and publicity

With targeted information Cocktail wants to improve the position of foreign LGBTI people in centres for asylum seekers and in Dutch society.

 

Cooperation

Cocktail is fully run by volunteers. To achieve its goals Cocktail explicitly strives for collaboration with refugee and migrant organizations, as well as other aid organizations.

 

What’s more…

To guarantee the necessary integrity and quality, a Cocktail volunteer is screened carefully regarding motivation, suitability and trustworthiness. Courses and lectures are offered to the volunteers to improve their competence.

Cocktail buddies don’t offer legal, medical, mental or financial help. If needed, the newcomer will be referred to professional organizations.

 

Contact

Do you know an LGBTI newcomer who might be interested in Cocktail, or are you an LGBTI  newcomer yourself? Please contact us! We welcome all reactions, questions and ideas.