Playing hockey with young people with disabilities

Fusina (55) has been a volunteer hockey coach at Only Friends for six years. This state-of-the-art sports center in Amsterdam North provides 750 children and young people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports together in a safe and familiar environment. There are over twenty different sports available at Only Friends.Tonight is the last hockey training before the summer vacation. That’s why the children and teenagers play the final match against their parents. They win 5-3. A loud cheer rises and everyone embraces each other and pats each other on the back. Boys and girls of all colors and ages shout their final group cheer in a circle embrace.

I will really miss them too

“Hi Fusina! You will come and visit again, won’t you?” “Thanks again for everything Fusina!” A beautiful woman shakes hands and hugs younger ones here and there. She asks with interest about how things are going at home with one of the parents. As the children head off to the changing rooms, she sighs: “I will really miss them. The children but also the connection with the parents.”

You see them grow in their development

The two current volunteers, Renate and Thomas, are sticking around on the hockey field for a bit longer. The two CIOS interns, Rik and Juliette, also want to express how grateful they are to work here at Only Friends. “It’s nice to see someone gaining more self-confidence and eventually being able to hit the ball hard with the stick.” Fusina has also gone to the sports center in Amsterdam Noord with some reluctance. “But I always left happily after a hockey evening full of jokes and stories about a new brace or a sleepover at grandma’s.”

Next to the washing machine

Fusina said goodbye two weeks ago. Rosalie, one of the children, made a drawing and received lots of gifts. But the greatest gift, she says, is that she has learned so much from the children. “They have such great respect for each other and treat each other incredibly lovingly. If someone makes a mistake, it’s like: ‘There you go, done.“and they keep going.” Many children live from one hockey night to the next. Even in hail or wind, it continues. It is also unique that they are truly only with peers here. Stanley (19) sits next to the washing machine when his sports clothing from Only Friends is being washed.(text continues below the photo)

And now on to the next volunteer work.

Fusina earns her money with culinary cooking tours. In addition, she has been doing volunteer work for many years. First for the children’s cinema at the Emmaziekenhuis, and now for Only Friends. She is now exchanging these sports activities on the hockey field after six years to raise money for Buurtbuik. Here, people with little money can eat good food that would otherwise be thrown away. “Making people happy makes me happy,” Fusina laughs. “Especially people who are less fortunate. And at Only Friends, I could combine my own movement with something super meaningful. And you become so aware that you are blessed with good health.”Read more here about the very special history of Only Friends

Interview: Thecla Groot Koerkamp
Photos Fusina: Jackie Mulder

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