Crafting and collecting clothing for the homeless.

At community center de Tagerijn in West, I meet Paula (47 years old); Paula is spastic and paralyzed but gets around everywhere with the help of her mobility scooter. “I don’t stay in a negative spiral for long; you can always find something positive in it.”Paula volunteers at Atelier de Mix in the community center de Tagerijn, where she assists the course instructor. The studio is open from 10:00 to 13:00 on Wednesdays and is intended for anyone who enjoys it. “Every week we pick up where we left off. We knit, draw, and make bags or rompers; people are free to choose what they want to do.”Paula assists at Atelier de Mix.Cultivating patience“I already knew the community center from before, but hadn’t been there for a while. After an investigation by the UWV, I ended up in a program to search for work and explore what my options were. Paid work didn’t work out, but fortunately this volunteer work did. When I was having dinner, I ran into Marjanne, the course instructor, and she asked if I wanted to become her assistant. I’ve been doing this for almost half a year now and I really enjoy it. I will always continue working here. I have learned to be patient from this work, sometimes it goes slowly.”‘As long as they are happy’“In the past, the attitude towards disabled people was: ‘As long as they are happy.’ Now, more is expected from people with a disability. I just deal with my disability now; it is what it is. I used to have issues with it, but now I have accepted it. I am a social creature and make connections quickly. I want to understand people and bring them into contact with each other. I say ‘Good morning’ to everyone and have a chat here and there. There are many lonely people. My circle of friends is also important to me, my friends keep me going. Through volunteering, I am also getting to know more people, I am getting to know my neighbors.”“Friends keep me going”[/caption]Homeless“I find helping the homeless important. I set aside money for a month and used it to buy supplies for the homeless. I delivered them to the Rainbow shelter on Bilderdijkstraat. When I told some people about it, they pointed me to a networking event. There, I pitched my idea. I asked people to fill bags for the homeless. Now I receive bags filled with clothes: people can drop them off at the community center De Tagerijn. I pick them up there and bring them to the homeless shelter. When they see me coming, people already wave.”PoemsIt was a close call. Paula herself found shelter just in time, so she didn’t end up living on the streets, she says; her interest in people who do become homeless and end up on the streets comes from here. ‘The Street’ is her source of inspiration for the poems and short stories she writes. ‘I recited a poem at Atelier de Mix at Christmas. It wasn’t easy and I stuttered a bit. I really need to work on that. But it was very enjoyable to do. I would like to be discovered as a poet!’Photos: Kim Cerrone
Interview: Helen Kooistra

Would you like to do volunteer work as well?There are 1500 possibilities in Amsterdam. We are happy to help you further.Check out the selection online or come by sometime.