“I will soon be back in contact with the job market”

27 October 2025

Peter Koopman (62) guides participants in the Simple Furniture Making course at the Public Workshop.

Coach“I have been unemployed since January 1, 2014, after the Welfare Foundation Cardanus, where I had been working for 17 years, had to completely cease its activities. A big setback. But I didn’t sit back and do nothing. The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) offered me the course ‘Successful towards work’, specially designed for people over 50. The UWV coach also advised me to start doing volunteer work.”Valuable“It was immediately well received. Something I hadn’t thought of myself, but which is a great opportunity to use my talents. I visited VCA South Branch to explore creative volunteering. I talked about my past experience as a furniture maker and how much I enjoyed it, which was seen as very valuable. We agreed on a role as an assistant teacher for the Simple Furniture Making course at the Public Workshop.”

My technically acquired skills and my experience in social settings come together here

Enthusiasm“I guide students here in their first introduction to Simple Furniture Making. I focus on safety, explain a bit of technique to them, encourage them, and convey my enthusiasm to them, not least with my humor. This is one Saturday per month. Both my technically built skills and my experience in social settings come together here. It works very nicely.”Contribution“Learners who have absolutely no experience in woodworking, yet at the end of the course day leave home very satisfied with a self-made bench. Where I have made a significant contribution. That makes me feel wonderful.”

With warmth and attention to your fellow human beings, you get back your invested energy for more than a hundred percent

Trust“Volunteering does not provide the financial return of paid work, but instead offers tremendous satisfaction. By showing warmth and attention to others, you receive more than a hundred percent back on your invested energy. It also allows me to reconnect with the job market and gain experience as a creative facilitator/teacher. This adds value to my resume and hopefully opens up new opportunities in the future. My volunteer work prevents me from feeling down, from losing faith in finding a job or leading a meaningful life. My confidence is growing that it is possible to turn my hobby into my job.”Compose“Believing in yourself, daring to trust that there are unprecedented possibilities to make your life extremely meaningful starting tomorrow; that is so important. Everyone is the conductor of their own talents and is capable of composing something beautiful from them. Age plays no role in this, only the person themselves. So, to anyone in a similar situation as me, I would especially advise: do not hesitate to involve people in your surroundings and make sure to voice what you want! I am very happy that I did this. It is more than worth it. I radiate when I guide the students. In addition, I am also preparing a course on Making Speaker Boxes myself, and perhaps in the future even more courses. I will see what comes my way!”Interested in creative volunteering? View these job vacancies

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