Thank you meeting at the Grand

In the beautiful Wedding Hall of The Grand, former city hall, we welcomed 15 volunteers from 15 different organizations in the Centrum district on December 7th to thank them for their contribution to the well-being of others, to a nice place in the neighborhood, to the preservation of historical heritage. Because it was National Volunteer Day, a day to reflect on the value of volunteering!Simone Timmer (VCA): “So many beautiful things wouldn’t happen without you. You are invited here as a representation of all those thousands of volunteers active in the Center. Special guest is Lotte Terwel, member of the executive board of the Center district. Lotte, why did you say yes to the invitation to be here?”

Lotte Terwel: “From day 1 in my role as a member of the executive board, I notice that our city relies to a large extent on volunteers. So many projects and places wouldn’t exist without them. I want to hear about your experiences and challenges. I hear that volunteers in healthcare sometimes get overwhelmed. I also want to hear about that.” Nienke Meijaard, civil servant for the social foundation, joins in.

From day 1 in my role as a member of the executive board, I notice that our city relies to a large extent on volunteers. So many projects and places wouldn’t exist without them.

At the table are volunteers involved with children and animals, refugees, families, people with aphasia, elderly, people with intellectual disabilities, transgender individuals, social cohesion in the neighborhood, and not to forget: culture. Many theaters and museums are also largely run by volunteers.

“I am behind the bar and it’s such a party!”

A selection of what they told:

Pascale Kleintjes from the Dierencapel: “I am proud that we run the petting zoo with only volunteers and we are open every day!”

Mart Boden is an energy coach at the !WOON foundation: “I am concerned about people who have little insight into their finances and how they can save.”

Noor Mejri volunteers at Oud geleerd jong gedaan: “I get so much satisfaction from interacting with the elderly. When I walk in, they are all ready with a notepad on their lap.”

Joyce Marsman volunteers at Home-Start: “I help single mothers with raising their children, which I find very important. For people from other cultures, it is sometimes extra difficult to raise their children here.”

Vonky Broekhuis: “I work behind the bar at the Roode Bioscoop, and it’s such a party!”

Henny Mulder: “I work in the clothing store of the Koffiehuis Amsterdam. What I find beautiful is that the whole neighborhood is involved in our work, we often receive bags full of clothes or discounts from shopkeepers.”

Jelle Noppen: “I help people with questions about the computer or tablet at the Community Center Claverhuis. I am concerned about the increasing digitalization of society. For many elderly people, this is not feasible. And yet they have to, there is no alternative.”

Wishes

Wishes that were mentioned: better cooperation when it comes to permits and other regulations that small initiatives also have to comply with and that take a lot of time. For example, when organizing a neighborhood party. It would also be nice if people who have been active as volunteers in their neighborhood for years also have the opportunity to get a paid job.

It was a pleasant morning, where many experiences were exchanged and contacts were made. “So nice to meet other colleague volunteers and hear with how much passion they do their work!”

Lotte Terwel and Nienke Meijaard have received a lot of information and heard the concerns of the volunteers.

With thanks to

We want to thank the volunteers for their presence and beautiful stories. We also thank their organizations: Stichting Prisma, !Woon, Dock, De Dierencapel, Humanitas Home-Start, St Marline Fritzius, Koffiehuis Amsterdam, Ons’ lieve heer op solder, St Curinesa, Buurtcomité Oostelijke Eilanden, Vluchtelingenwerk, Roode Bioscoop, Oud geleerd jong gedaan, Ver. Hendrick de Keyser, Cliëntenbelang. And finally Hotel The Grand, who received us grandly!Photos: Peter Lange, VCA Media