“I am so proud when I see my students shine”

Who are you?“I am Renske van Rijn, 61 years old, born and raised in the Amsterdam Spaarndammerbuurt neighborhood, and now I have been living happily in Noord for 45 years.”What do you do in your daily life?“In addition to my volunteer work at the Community Center de Meeuw, I am also a volunteer at the Community Center Het Claverhuis, located in the heart of the Jordaan. Here, I do reception work and assist behind the bar in serving drinks to the guests.”What do you do as a volunteer?“At the Community Center de Meeuw, by Combiwel, I am giving a clothing making course. I teach a group of ladies how to make custom clothing, ranging from extra large to extra small. My own experiences come in handy here. Through a former employer, I actually completed training to become a fashion designer and pattern maker, after which I worked for several years at a studio of a major clothing company. And then at a sewing studio in the North, where I made custom clothing on commission. Such as theater costumes or jackets made from handwoven fabric.”My most beautiful experience is…“The joy I have in teaching other people how to sew clothes. In a very good atmosphere. I am so proud when I see my students shining with their self-made garments!”What is your tip for people who want to start doing volunteer work?“Turn your hobby into a volunteer job, then you will always go to your ‘work’ with pleasure.”

Are you interested in volunteering?View the job openings.

Photo credit: Rob Beense