The feeling of friendship at Home Start

27 October 2025

Zena Gillis is a volunteer at Home Start, exactly ten years ago she completed the training that all volunteers receive before they start guiding a family. “I had a part-time job in nursing back then, my children were in high school. I saw the Home Start advertisement and I thought, ‘I want to do that!’ So I reacted very impulsively at that time.”And that turned out to be the right decision. Zena still guides mothers who often feel alone in their parenthood. They are unsure if they are doing it right. Zena gives them a feeling of friendship. She compliments them, offers a listening ear. She focuses mainly on the positive. “Sometimes you really have to restrain yourself. It is not my intention to tell them what to do. For example, I say: how could you approach that differently?”José:“We start from the parent’s support request at Home Start. For example, if they need help getting their administration in order, we won’t say: shouldn’t you clean up the house first? The parent is in charge. They decide what it’s about and the pace.”Zena:“I see that the mothers are doing their best. They put their children first. They need more confidence in themselves.”José:“And we want to normalize the problem they feel: everyone sometimes feels down, everyone sometimes doubts ‘am I doing it right?'”

The reason why Zena has been doing this volunteer work for ten years stems from her love for children and parents. “Children are very dear to me. I am happy that I can contribute to a better connection between parents and children. That the children have a good home base.”

I am happy that I can contribute to a better connection between parents and children. That the children have a good home base.

Four years ago, José became a volunteer coordinator at Home Start, after specializing in the psychology of parenthood, which shows that the supportive community for parents is so important. This supportive community, which can be family, friends, or neighbors, ensures that you feel supported in your role as a parent. In the families supported by Home Start, this supportive community is often lacking. The volunteers then take on that role. “A parent who feels seen and heard automatically has more space to see and hear the child.”José:“This work can therefore only be done by volunteers, from the heart. There was recently a mother with a very difficult child, and she found it very challenging to set boundaries. The volunteer who visited her said: yes, he is a little rascal, but he is also an incredibly sweet child. And that is so nice for that mother, that someone else also sees the positive sides of her child.”

All volunteers at Home Start have a social drive and a positive attitude

José conducts the introductory meetings with the families and the volunteers. She makes the match based on intuition. She accompanies the first meeting between the family and the volunteer. After that, both the parents and the volunteer can say yes or no. “But all volunteers at Home Start have a social drive and a positive attitude. So usually it goes well.”

Before starting as a volunteer, you receive training on how to best support the parents. There are regular theme evenings and follow-up days. You then receive tips from other volunteers and can catch up. Although you work alone, this way you still become part of a team.”Zena:“When I go back home to my family after a few hours, I feel good. Sometimes I worry, think about how to handle things. But overall, I have a nice feeling, I feel useful. Parents are always very grateful for your visit. And I am happy when I see that a mother feels better over time, and that is nice for her and for the children.”