Application Call: Join The Hague in Action
Empower your voice. Connect with peers. Help build inclusive communities.
The Hague in Action gives young people in and around The Hague the opportunity to learn, collaborate, and contribute to stronger connections between people in their communities.
*The date of the last gathering has been changed.
What is it about?
Are you interested in human rights, migration, and how people with different backgrounds can meet, connect and participate in their communities? Do you have ideas about creating meaningful change on the local level? The Hague in Action could be for you.
At Justice & Peace, we believe in the voices and ideas of young people. All backgrounds are welcome, whether or not you have experience in youth leadership or a relevant education in the field. We welcome students, recent graduates, and young professionals to join The Hague in Action. You will get the opportunity to explore challenges around human rights, migration and inclusion, take part in community dialogue, develop your ideas, and turn them into a real impact project that strengthens social cohesion and connection in your community.
Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) is a voluntary social service programme initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science. MDT offers young people between the ages of 12 and 30 a unique opportunity to make a positive impact in their communities. Upon completion of the programme, participants receive a certificate. Justice & Peace is part of a consortium of organisations offering an MDT under Rights in Action.
The trajectory
The Hague in Action is part of Rights in Action, a collaborative MDT programme run by a consortium of civil society organisations and educational institutions. The Hague in Action is a trajectory offered by Justice & Peace.
Over the course of four months, you will receive practical guidance on how to launch a social project: from recognising a local issue, and developing an idea to planning, implementing and evaluating your project. You will also gain insight into themes like migration, human rights and social inclusion, and will meet other youth and organisations in and around The Hague.
Design and carry out your own local impact project, for example:
- Create a community event that connects people
- Raise awareness through your own campaign about a human rights or migration-related issue in or around The Hague
- Emphasise voices and experiences that are not always heard
- Organise an activity: a panel discussion, game night, film screening, or your own idea that fosters new encounters and social gatherings
- Collaborate with local civil society initiatives to drive change in your neighbourhood
Why join?
- Gain experience in creating and implementing a social project
- Develop skills in project-based work, collaboration and organising
- Grow your network by building connections with peers, as well as with other local organizations working on human rights, migration, inclusion and/or social cohesion
- All training sessions and workshops are free of cost
- Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) offers recognition of your work: upon completion of the programme, you will receive an MDT certificate
- Make local impact with your project.
“I used to think that I could only make a difference or have an impact once I’d reached a certain level of knowledge or been recognised as an expert. Now I feel more confident in the idea that, even without that external recognition, you can still contribute, organise and lead within socially valuable projects.”
Former participant in The Hague Changemakers
Who can join?
- No prior experience required, just an interest in human rights, migration, community-building or civic participation!
- Young adults aged 18–30, who haven’t participated in two MDT programmes before, living in and around The Hague.
- Those available for the full trajectory period from 10 October 2026 until 13 February 2027.
- We encourage young people from all backgrounds and experiences to participate.
It’s important that you attend the physical gatherings in The Hague. In order to be able to receive your certificate, you will need to complete approximately 80 hours over 4 months, and participation in the in-person gatherings is an important part of the trajectory. Other than 5 meetings in The Hague, the programme is designed to be flexible, so you can combine your participation with your studies, work, or other commitments.
Dates: 10 October 2026, 7 November 2026, 12 December 2026, 9 January 2027, 13 February 2027
Questions? Email us at youth@justiceandpeace.nl.
Join The Hague in Action and help build a more connected, inclusive and welcoming community.
Application deadline: 28 September
This trajectory has been made possible in collaboration with Fonds1818.
About Rights in Action
Rights in Action is a collaborative MDT programme of civil society organisations Justice & Peace, Human Security Collective, Perspectivity, SPIOR, and Human Rights in the Picture, as well as educational institutions The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and Erasmus University Rotterdam. Our goals is to support young people in engaging with human rights and drive positive societal change. It is aimed to give young people a space where they can explore real-world societal issues, engage with communities, and co-create solutions.