Volunteer Daniella works in the garden of De Horizon: “Working outside is satisfying”

Thirteen years ago, Daniella Winters (46) moved from Breukelen to Amsterdam “for love.” When she was declared unfit to work, she began looking for a new way to spend her time. She saw a call on Facebook from De Horizon looking for new volunteers. “That’s for me,” she thought. She has been working there for three years now.Daniella was diagnosed with MS a few years ago, a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the nervous system, leading to a decreased processing of signals from the brain. As a result, she is unfit to work. “In the call on Facebook, De Horizon mentioned they were looking for someone to help with the garden renovation, as the budget had been rejected by West Begroot. I have received training to work in a garden center, so I thought this would be perfect for me. I am now already in my third season here!”

Satisfied and fulfilled

Volunteering suits her excellently: “There is nothing better than feeling tired and fulfilled after a day of working outdoors. It relaxes you and ultimately gives you more energy again. We now have a fixed team of four people, but it took quite a while before people really got involved. Especially spring and summer are delightful seasons for this work. There is naturally a bit less to do in winter. Additionally, the social aspect is also very pleasant.”

Wormenhotel

Daniella and her colleagues’ work is very diverse: “We mainly focus on removing ‘unwanted greenery’. Additionally, we grow herbs for the restaurant, and we have a worm hotel for composting.

De Horizon is always looking for extra help. For those interested: every Wednesday, everyone is welcome for a cup of coffee and a chat. “You absolutely don’t need to have experience to join. As I like to say, ‘trying is learning’, and the more hands, the more we can accomplish!”

Interested in doing volunteer work?

Are you looking for volunteer work in West? There are various consultation hours for volunteering in the district. Make an appointment with Niels Diepstraten via [contact information].www.vca.nu/mediation-agreement, phone number 06-34174129 or email addressn.diepstraten@vca.nu.