New director VCA – “I strongly believe in connecting”

Interview with Henriette van der Meij

Volunteer Center Amsterdam welcomes its new director this month. After thirteen years of enthusiastic leadership from Maribi Gomez, she is passing the baton to Henriette van der Meij. Henriette finds volunteering the most enjoyable thing there is and is curious about the Amsterdam volunteers and volunteer organizations. “I really want to connect with the needs that exist in the city.”

When did you first come into contact with volunteering?“I have been exposed to it from a young age. I grew up in Katwijk aan Zee, my mother was actively involved as a volunteer at Tafeltje dekje, and I remember her cooking in a large kitchen with other women for people in our village. I loved going with her when she distributed meals. You would then enter the homes of all kinds of people. My father was involved in school boards. For me, it was very normal to do something for others. And I still think that way.”When did you first start doing volunteer work on your own?“That was at BOSK, an association that brings together and supports people with physical disabilities. I got involved with BOSK through my daughter Lotte. She has mild cerebral palsy and had a difficult start. I was looking for contact with other parents and found it through BOSK. You enter a world you do not know, and then it is very nice to exchange experiences with people in the same situation. That helped me so much that I wanted to give something back. I started organizing meetings for parents with children with disabilities and giving presentations. It also gave me a lot of energy.”When you first saw the job opening for director at VCA, what did you think?“That’s me! Everything fell into place. I recognized myself in the person who was being sought. Plus the combination of volunteer work, the most enjoyable thing there is, being at the center of it, a professional organization with original projects, being ultimately responsible, and, Amsterdam! Such a great city to work in!”

CV – Henriette van der Meij

Born: 1963
Place of residence: Muiderberg
Previous job: Manager Almere – Zeewolde at Humanitas
Started asPractice supervisor and Z nurse
Volunteering: Board member at BOSK

I find the expertise of a volunteer center unique and I want to highlight it even more

Harnessing your ambition and passion makes you a happier person

It is important to have good guidance. That is a requirement. And this is where the position of the volunteer center comes into play. They can support and advise in this. I strongly believe in connecting. I see volunteering as an opportunity to focus on talents. Everyone has a talent. Through volunteering, you can empower people, it opens up other doors. It is beautiful to let people do what they are good at instead of making them work according to a job description.”Volunteer work is increasingly taking on the role of professionals in some organizations. Think of healthcare. The cultural sector is also becoming more dependent on the efforts of volunteers. How do you see this shift?“VCA can help volunteer organizations with a vision and policy on paid work versus volunteering. Where do you draw that line? Volunteers should never take over the role of professionals. I believe you should constantly have a dialogue about this.”Amsterdam is a new work field. How do you plan to build a network here?“I worked in Amsterdam over fifteen years ago, so I need to rebuild my network here. I am someone who likes to approach people and is curious. What can we do for each other? I will also make use of the existing network among the employees of VCA and would like to join them on outings in the beginning.”What will you do first when you arrive at your new place?“Get to know everyone! Meet all employees, what do you do, what are your ambitions, what can be improved? And then, together with the team, set the course for VCA based on the needs of the partners in the city.”Photos: Huub Zeeman