“Now I know that volunteering is fun and educational!”

Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Natsenet. I’m from Eritrea, where I worked in administration. I’ve been living in the Netherlands for a few years now. I currently work as a bartender at Lydia Community Center.

What makes you happy?
I love my volunteer work. Lydia is a vibrant place, and I meet a lot of people there. It’s also important to me because I can practice my Dutch. My colleagues are friendly and helpful, and I feel welcome.

Who did you last compliment? And who gave you a compliment?
I received one from my colleague, and also from my language coach when I started learning Dutch. I give compliments to my colleagues and my family. My family is important to me. I don’t have much family in Amsterdam, so I really appreciate the time together.

What’s your favorite spot in Amsterdam?
My favorite spot has always been Osdorp, because that’s where my family lives. But now that I’m volunteering in Zuid, I’m getting to know this part of the city better and I love it too.

What’s the best or most important lesson you’ve learned?
I didn’t used to know that volunteering could be fun and educational. Now I do. I have fun, I meet lots of people. I also have a role to play; people count on me. I help make the community center a great place to be.

Also looking for volunteer work?

We’re happy to help you get started! There’s always volunteer work that suits your interests and lifestyle. At twenty locations in Amsterdam, you can schedule  a personal consultation with free, personalized advice . Prefer to search yourself? Our  online job board lists over 1,000 volunteer openings . You can easily filter by your preferences and respond directly to a call from a community organization.

Interview and photo: Melita Bacic

Because Natsenet chose not to be photographed herself, the photo was taken of two regular visitors to the bar.