Annual Report 2020

The city is showing its best side

Volunteering is of invaluable importance to the strong city of Amsterdam. This has once again been confirmed in this special year. We, as independent ambassador, connector, and expert, ensure the quality, accessibility, vitality, and continuity of volunteering in Amsterdam.

Corona has had a huge impact on society as a whole, and certainly on Amsterdam’s volunteers and volunteer organizations. Many loyal volunteers suddenly found themselves ‘unemployed’ as many Amsterdam volunteer organizations temporarily closed their doors. Our phone was ringing off the hook in the first few months: new volunteers from all corners of the city were stepping up to do something good right now. People offering practical help to neighbors, wanting to support vulnerable elderly, or helping children with their homework digitally. We matched supply and demand as best as we could. It may be the most positive outcome of corona: a whopping 10,000 extra volunteers have signed up in Amsterdam to selflessly help others.

We have continued our mediations, training sessions, and advisory meetings online to continue facilitating social organizations optimally with volunteers, knowledge, and tools. We have remained positive and creative in finding out what was still possible.

So much dedication, so much willingness to help each other, so much heartwarming volunteer energy. The dear city is showing its best side in these challenging times. And I am proud that we, as Volunteer Center Amsterdam, have once again dedicated ourselves to the city with heart and soul this year.

Henriette van der Meij,
Director-Manager Volunteer Center Amsterdam

>> Read our annual report for 2020 here