“I always ask: What would you like to learn?”

Hannah van de Grient (28) is a youth worker and volunteer coordinator at The Mall de Baarsjes.Who am I? How do I behave in a group? How do I resolve a conflict? What do I want to become in the future? These are examples of questions addressed at The Mall, a youth center in the Baarsjes. One week focuses on a serious theme, while the next week involves a creative activity. Such as making jewelry, starting a vegetable garden, or baking cupcakes to give out on the street. The Mall is for boys and girls between 10 and 19 years old. There are different groups.Building Relationships“We currently work with seven paid employees, six interns, and three volunteers. Generally, we have more volunteers active with us, but a few have recently stopped. I find it very special that people want to do volunteer work in their free time and dedicate themselves to society. Building relationships is key for us. There are group activities, but it is also very important to sometimes be able to take a young person aside, for example, if someone wants to share their story or needs some extra attention. Volunteers are an essential link for us because they serve as role models for the young people. They participate in the groups and have a heart for the young people. The young people feel that too. And when you feel seen, when there is interest, a bond is formed. In addition to volunteers who are present in the groups, there are also volunteers who help with practical matters, such as shopping or cooking for groups.”Time“Every volunteer is welcome at The Mall. We do ask someone to have the intention to commit for at least a year. Gaining the trust of young people takes time. And when someone suddenly leaves, you can really see that the young people become closed off again. That’s why we consider continuity important.

I invite those interested for a conversation and they can join us for a while. I can relate well to them, as I am also active as a volunteer for the Duchenne Project and my rowing club. If someone is keen and enthusiastic, I become the same. What I mainly focus on is whether someone connects with the young people and what their motivation is to start volunteering. That’s what matters. If someone just sits there and does nothing, there isn’t really a match.”What do you want to learn?“Next, I connect a volunteer with myself or a colleague. I always ask beforehand: ‘What would you like to learn from us?’ There is regularly time for discussion, and after a set period, we evaluate: what progress have you made? And in what areas can we better support you? We also organize volunteer evenings, peer coaching moments, and training sessions. Such as: How to form a group? How to create a sense of belonging?

Sometimes the initiative also comes from the volunteers themselves. For example, there is someone who wants to learn more about the background of the young people. She notices differences between Dutch youth and boys and girls from another culture. What can you say and what not? We are currently setting up a meeting about this.”

Our volunteer policy includes the rights and obligations of volunteers and agreements on safety.

Last year, we also developed a volunteer policy. This includes the rights and duties of volunteers and agreements on safety. Essential; it helps us think about what we find important in the workplace. The foundation is there, and currently, we are building on this, including through VCA training.”Expatriates“Our volunteers range from mothers to prospective students, and from people ‘in between jobs’ who want to gain more experience to expats. Lauren is a great example from the latter group. She cooked weekly for and with the girls, and despite her limited Dutch, she managed to communicate very well. Through drawings, non-verbal communication, and assistance with translation.”Read here Lauren’s experiences at The Mall.

Wow moment“Sometimes the inevitable moment comes when a volunteer says goodbye. It often feels sad, but in a certain way also valuable. There are handmade gifts and mentions of all the fun things done together. It always makes me realize how special their dedication is. They have walked alongside young people for a while. They have made a difference. When I see the emotions of the young people, who are truly sad to see someone leave, that touches me.”Interested in volunteering in the Welfare sector with children or young people?Check out these job vacancies.