From cooking to sailing to coaching

The door to the basement on Kloveniersburgwal is ajar, held by a bungee cord. As soon as I step inside, I’m greeted by about twenty people, enjoying themselves with a cup of coffee in hand or a cigarette dangling from their lips. Some are even dozing. Welcome to the Kloof 95 Homeless Shelter. One of the men acts as a kind of unofficial receptionist. I ask him for Wim Borsboom, with whom I have an appointment. He looks at me wide-eyed: “Who?” “Wim,” I say again, “he cooks here.” And then suddenly, laughter breaks out. “Oh, Wim the cook, yes, there he is!”

Wim stands at the bar with a smile, ready to welcome me. He’s one of the volunteer cooks at Kloof 95. But that’s just one of the many roles he’s passionately embraced. As a versatile jack-of-all-trades in the world of volunteer work, he does a lot. And his story? It’s one of continuous growth and dedication.

From Ketelbinkie via manager to volunteer

Wim started working early. At 16, he enlisted in the ocean-going trade. Back on dry land, he was conscripted and then trained as a plumber. He quickly rose to the rank of teacher and eventually to executive manager. But around 50, something shifted in his thinking. “I had everything I wanted—a great relationship, a nice house, a good salary. But I realized I also wanted to do something for others.” So Wim began searching for a way to make good use of his time.

The answer came when he saw a call for peer support workers willing to mentor people with addiction. Wim, who himself had a history of addiction, decided to use his experiences to help others. That’s how he ended up at De Regenboog Groep, where he coached people with addiction one day a week until his retirement. His management experience proved invaluable in this work, though it wasn’t always easy. “When things go well, it’s rewarding work, but more than 60 percent of people experience relapses. That also makes it very challenging.”

Cooking with creativity

After retiring, Wim sought volunteer work with a little more freedom, allowing him to occasionally get away in his campervan. That turned out to be cooking at Kloof95. Once a week, he cooks for the homeless who come there for a hot meal. “I’m an amateur chef. My father taught me how to cook when I was 12,” Wim says. “Cooking here is a challenge: you have to be creative with the resources you have; the challenge is to put the most delicious and healthy meal on the table. But the men and women who come here often love a good plate of potatoes with gravy. But peeling 10 kilos of potatoes is quite a task.”

And more…

Besides cooking, Wim also spends time as an energy coach. He helps people on a tight budget make smart use of municipal subsidies to make their homes more sustainable. “They’re often older people who are on their own. They’re so happy to have someone come over, so you spend an hour chatting and drinking coffee—you’re practically a social worker.”

And as if that weren’t enough, Wim also volunteered last year with SailWise, an organization that offers water sports for people with disabilities. Sailing and canoeing with people in wheelchairs is something truly special. You see the smiles on their faces when they’re behind the wheel—yes, that’s what I do it for. And yes, the first time someone comes up to you and asks, “Hey, can you help me go to the bathroom,” it’s a bit awkward. But these people aren’t used to anything else. It’s very rewarding work and an incredibly valuable experience.

The satisfaction

What drives Wim is simple: the satisfaction he gets from helping others and the bond he shares with his fellow volunteers. “Working together in the kitchen, behind the bar, and having fun – those are the moments that make it so special.” His wife is also an active volunteer. But not for much longer. Their house is for sale, the camper is ready, and Spain is their new home for the next few years. Will he get bored there? “No, you can probably make a big difference there as a volunteer!” Wim says with a laugh. The Spanish should count themselves lucky, because Wim and his wife will undoubtedly make just as positive an impact there as they did here in the Netherlands.

Would you also like to become a volunteer?

 You’ll find 1001 opportunities  in  our online job board . Or feel free to stop by one of our consultation hours .

Text: Piet Renooy
Photos: Kitty de Jong