This article explores the narratives of the volunteers working inside Dutch asylum seeker centers (AZCs). The objective was to explore the challenges and coping strategies of these volunteers, who face contradictory processes: being engaged to improve the condition of asylum seekers in the context of growing antimigrant/antirefugee sentiment in The Netherlands, dominant exclusionary discourse, and the difficult material conditions in AZCs. The analysis of these narratives shows that in spite of some conflicting emotions, a specific form of agency (through the combination of idealistic convictions and pragmatic strategies of change) enabled these volunteers to remain optimistic in their work. © 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Dominant discourse Agency Narratives total institution Asylum seekers Volunteers

Netherlands immigration policy immigrant asylum seeker voluntary approach