Volunteering: The Unexpected Gain

Without volunteers, the Netherlands would grind to a halt. But the real miracle often happens to those who volunteer.

What is the value of volunteering?
Take a moment to think about that before you read on…

So? What came to mind? Perhaps you thought of all those volunteers in healthcare? At the food bank? Or of people who, out of pure charity, dedicate themselves to helping others in need. Volunteers who help newcomers with Dutch, buddies for lonely people, homework tutors for children from vulnerable families. And so there are thousands of examples of people who – voluntarily, unpaid, but certainly not insignificantly – dedicate themselves to helping others. By 2024, that number will be more than 5 million Dutch people. They are the ones keeping society running. Without them, countless sectors would grind to a halt. But that’s just one side of the coin.

The other side of the coin

The value of volunteering lies just as much, if not more, on the volunteer’s side. It provides meaning, a reason to leave home, or builds resilience. I’d like to share some concrete examples from my daily work. In my role as a mediator at the Amsterdam Volunteer Center, I meet people from very different backgrounds every day:

• Refugees who want to connect with their new homeland
• People who are carefully picking up the thread again after a burnout
• Elderly people who want to fill their days again
• People stuck in a meaningless office job and looking for meaning
• Young people who want to gain work experience or discover what suits them

They come to our office hours to explore together: what motivates them? What do they want to achieve? And where do they thrive? Together, we search for a place that suits their talents, energy, and potential.

Stories of meaning

Take Chaima* . For years, she lovingly cared for her seriously ill husband. During those years, she gradually lost not only her support network, but also herself. He passed away a year ago. Since then, she’s been trying to reshape her life. “I want to be around people again,” she said cautiously. “To feel something of myself again.” When we talked about a volunteer position that might be a good fit for her, I literally saw something light up in her eyes. Hope. A zest for life. A reason to get out there again.

Or take Hossein* , an Iranian man in his early forties. He and his family have been living in the Netherlands for several years. He’ll soon be starting his Care & Welfare program. He wanted to gain some practical experience. I helped him find a volunteer position at a healthcare facility in his neighborhood. Two weeks later, he messaged me: “I started! It’s really fun, and everyone is very friendly. I feel welcome here.”

For them, volunteering isn’t just a casual side hustle. It’s a bridge back to themselves. To society. To meaning. And so, volunteering is a wonderful tool for so many people who—for whatever reason—are temporarily on the sidelines of society. Its value is both personal and societal. And I feel privileged to contribute daily to that connection, between people and possibilities, between lives and zest for life.

Hopefully, this plea has deepened your perspective on volunteering. Curious? About volunteering or how you can make a difference—for someone else or for yourself?
Feel free to call me.

Jelle

Mediator Volunteer Center Amsterdam
06-34030720
j.guijt@vca.nu

* These names are fictitious