“It’s never a one-way street, you both benefit from it”

27 October 2025

Cynthia Jhinnoe (35) has an impressive resume as a volunteer. At the age of sixteen, she was already involved in the establishment of the youth information café The Site. After many volunteer positions, she is now active for Burennetwerk in the Baarsjes. As a neighborhood contact person, she conducts intake interviews with people who want to do chores or visit neighbors as volunteers.“I was about sixteen years old, I was acting at theater Artisjok / 020 (zerotwenty) and danced with the theater group at the opening of Kunstbende. There was a stand where a woman was trying to set up something for and by young people. I started talking to her, she was very enthusiastic and I was curious. I was always up for something. The first meeting was at Hotel Arena, in June 1996 I think. There we took the first steps towards what later became The Site. We started with absolutely nothing. A year later, we had a prime location on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.”What was The Site exactly?“The Site was a youth information café, with computers, internet, a reading table with magazines and newspapers, a small cinema. There was also an in-house temp agency, a bar where you could get toasties, sweets, coffee, tea, and soft drinks. At that time, not everyone had access to the internet yet. I was one of the members of the Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The YAC consisted of young people from different cultural backgrounds, ages, and interests. Together we organized workshops and theme days, and we published a magazine every month: Fresh Capital. We also released an information ladder monthly with all the activities we organized.

There was a very positive vibe. It didn’t feel like volunteering anymore.

From there, we also started a radio station: Multicultural Broadcasting Foundation Amsterdam (MOSA). These were young people from The Site, but also young people from outside who were interested in making radio. There were about 12 to 15 young people who created scripts, hosted shows, and did research. We took a course from SALTO to learn the technical aspects. After obtaining the radio certificate, we went ‘on air’. The groups were divided over different days. So, we were on the radio for a whole week. I was part of the Saturday group.”What was your mission?“The Site was supposed to be a central point for all young people in Amsterdam, for information, and a meeting place to organize projects together. All topics that interested young people were covered. I thought along about all the themes and gave advice. What could be improved, how we could reach young people, what activities we could organize, and more.

From the municipality, we were asked to join the European Youth Council. To do that, you had to be chosen. I got to go twice! Once in Brussels and once in Stockholm. The week was about youth participation. It was so incredibly fun to meet young people from other European countries. I learned a lot from both trips and met nice people, with whom I still keep in touch.”How do you describe that time, around the turn of the century?“What a great time that was! There was a lot organized for and by young people. Everyone was busy with volunteering and enthusiastic. There was a very positive vibe. It didn’t feel like volunteering anymore. When you call it volunteering, it quickly gets a label. You then quickly think of helping an older person. I had to debunk that constantly back then. No, I do very different things!”How did things progress with The Site?“Later the Youth Information Point (YIP) joined The Site. I don’t remember exactly why The Site ceased to exist, but I think it was because the municipality stopped the subsidy. After that, I got involved with Urban Youth Work Amsterdam (UYWA). They also organized activities. I was part of the editorial team.”Stor!ng, a program for and by young people recorded at De Balie, organized by neighborhood center Jaco. I was also part of the editorial team for the TV series.Politics is difficult, that was during the election period, and was broadcasted on MTNL (Multicultural Television Netherlands). It was a trendy and fresh program about politics.”How did your professional career go?“I have completed the Academy of Fine Arts. After that, I started working as a freelancer in the arts and culture sector. I worked for the municipality of Amsterdam, Podium Mozaïek, the Media College, and other clients. I also worked as a teacher for a while and at a reintegration agency where I was a youth program manager. After that, I worked for the government for a while.

Meanwhile, I started a new study, Business Administration. While writing my thesis, I had a lot of time to think about what I really wanted to do after this study. I decided to start my own business again. Under the name STUDIO BLVD, I blog, create, and edit videos & vlogs for companies and individuals. Additionally, I am still freelancing in the field of arts and cultural education.”How did you get involved in volunteering again?“After the commemoration at the Dam on May 4th last year, I cycled home and saw a flyer that said: Good Neighbor was here. I thought it was the name of a party because the flyer looked a bit like graffiti. But it turned out to be about volunteering at Burennetwerk. I burst out laughing and immediately thought: I haven’t done that in a long time!”What do you do at Burennetwerk?“I had an introductory interview and it turned out that they were still looking for a neighborhood contact person in the Baarsjes. I immediately knew that I wanted to become a neighborhood contact person. You then conduct intake interviews with volunteers who want to do something for people in the neighborhood.”

“During the introductory interviews, I mainly let the people speak and occasionally ask something. For example, what their motivation is to become a Good Neighbor. To determine if someone has good intentions, I use my intuition. Everyone has their own reasons for becoming a volunteer. Recently, someone came for an interview who had experienced a burnout. This person now had time and wanted to have more contact with people in the neighborhood. The nice thing about this is that neighbors and good neighbors get to know each other better. It’s never a one-way street, you both benefit from it.”What do you gain from this volunteer work?“After conversations with Good Neighbors, I realize again how valuable volunteer work is. When I see people willing to help others, it makes me very happy. It’s also nice to get to know more neighbors.”Do you ever experience something funny?“On Christmas Eve, there was a collection at the Jerusalem Church for Neighbor Network. I then talked about Neighbor Network there. Earlier this year, I received a registration from a lady who had come through the church. During the introductory meeting, she mentioned that someone from Neighbor Network had spoken on Christmas Eve and that’s why she had signed up. That someone was me, but she didn’t remember. That was funny!”How do you view social engagement?“If we didn’t have financial pressure, we would always help each other. I think there is a volunteer in everyone. In our society, we are focused on making money, pursuing our individual goal, that is what is expected of you. What if there was no money? Would we do other things?”