“Stepping out of your bubble”: social engagement at worldofwork™

From walking by to stepping inside

Both of them are still impressed by it: the first encounter with the residents of the asylum seekers’ center just around the corner. “The building is right near the office. You walk past it all the time, but you have no idea what’s going on inside,” says Digital HR Consultant Lubomira. Together with colleagues, she gave a resume workshop at the asylum seekers’ center as volunteer work through worldofwork™. Bas, Digital HR Consultant and Business Lead: “In the end, it was way more about connection and inclusion than about resumes. You give people a break, a chance to share their story. They want to get their lives back on track, but they can’t. There was this Syrian doctor who now serves coffee because he isn’t allowed to practice his profession here.”

An idea that grew from within

The thought of doing something for society alongside the consultancy work at worldofwork™ came up in 2024. Lubomira: “Our organization had grown, partly thanks to the merger of VroomHR and Cloudwatch into worldofwork™. New people joined, including Gen Z’ers who brought fresh ideas. Working for clients is incredibly fun, but finding meaning matters too: doing something extra and creating social impact.” Lubomira herself came from an organization that already practiced corporate social responsibility. “I talked to Bas to see what worldofwork™ could do. He felt the same way, and with support from Jochem ter Steege, one of our founders, we got the green light to get started.”

Meaningful volunteer work

A survey confirmed that many more colleagues wanted to volunteer during work hours. NL Cares turned out to be the perfect partner to shape the initiative. Bas: “NL Cares offers all kinds of volunteer opportunities, fully organized with guidance. They’re active in our region, and the work matches our skills. No gardening or maintenance tasks, but assignments that fit who we are. After a pilot, we picked three activities for 2025.”

Learning goes both ways

The first activity was the resume workshop at the asylum seekers’ center. Next came a programming lesson for elementary school kids, with everything from the script to the tablets arranged by NL Cares. Lubomira: “In one morning, we taught kids from grades 6, 7, and 8 at an Islamic elementary school how to build their own games. They picked it up fast and sometimes even explained things to us—super funny. Everyone was engaged and excited. A few kids wanted to keep going at home, especially the girls. Afterward, I got a big hug.”

Sitting down with different cultures

The third activity late in 2025 focused again on newcomers, this time at a refugee center in Utrecht. Bas: “It was an afternoon about holidays in different cultures and how they’re celebrated. A nice tie-in to the upcoming season with Sinterklaas and Christmas. People from all kinds of countries sat around the table. Through some assignments, we talked about food, drinks, and their holiday plans. You really notice how much they miss their family and friends.”

Seeing and thinking differently

The volunteer work through NL Cares has brought a lot, says Lubomira. “It doesn’t change the world, but it gives people who are struggling a spark of hope. It enriches you too. By stepping out of your own world, you start seeing things differently and prejudices fade away. I’ve even started voting differently.” While the activities aren’t meant as team building, that’s a nice side effect. “You get to know your colleagues better. Weeks later, you’re still talking about it together. As consultants, you often work alone. This brings you closer.”

Bas sees another benefit: “worldofwork™ is already an inclusive organization with people from all kinds of countries and cultures, and we work with international clients. Through the volunteering, you become just a bit more aware of communication differences. That means, for example, you approach an email a little differently than you would from our standard Western way of thinking.”

To be continued

Of the 45 employees at worldofwork™, almost half have now taken part in activities through NL Cares. Some have even started volunteering outside work hours. Bas: “It’s awesome that so many people are stepping up voluntarily. The energy is there, and we’re definitely keeping this going. After an evaluation with NL Cares, we’ll make new plans, and maybe another survey to see what activities colleagues are interested in. We’re really grateful to Jochem for his support.”Employees at worldofwork™ volunteer during work hours through NL Cares. About meeting people, learning, and seeing things in a new light.