Volunteering after your retirement keeps you nice and active

Photo:Jackie Mulder

“You can of course complain that the streets are a mess or that people no longer look out for each other, but you can also just do something about it yourself,” is the motto of Dick Schäfer (67). Besides the immediate satisfaction, it is also meaningful for him to roll up his sleeves for a better living environment. For Dick, this is nothing more than normal, and since his retirement earlier this year, he has become even more active in this. What is it like to continue to volunteer after retirement?”

Neighbors helping with household chores

Dick: “Shortly after my retirement, the corona time began. You fall into a double hole because besides missing the distraction of work, I also missed the social contacts that suddenly came to a standstill. I wanted to be useful and looked up VCA for an intake. They asked me what I liked and didn’t like to do to find a good match for me. I’m not a fan of small talk and prefer something simple and physical. So no coffee drinking or walking with the elderly, but tasks like replacing light bulbs, programming a TV, or assembling an IKEA cabinet. That’s how they connected me with”Amsterdam Center Neighborhood Network“I live in the city center myself and enjoy being able to help my neighbors in this way.”

Infected by other volunteers

In his working life, Dick was a Biology teacher for many years, including at the Spinoza 20first lyceum in Amsterdam. Additionally, he was a filmmaker at the Amsterdam television channel Salto and at the Rotterdam counterpart SLOR, where he mainly produced documentaries about the East Indian culture, which is also where his roots lie. When his aunt was admitted to a nursing home some time ago, he encountered the many volunteers who were involved there. He was impressed and wanted to do something in that field himself. Dick: “Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference for someone else, it is very satisfying to help people with something that comes easily to you and that you also enjoy doing.”

Photo:Jackie Mulder

Professional filmmaker available

In addition to the tasks for Burennetwerk, Dick has also resumed his passion for filming, now as a volunteer. He is happy to offer his services for free to charities such asExtinction Rebellion, which opposes climate change and loss of biodiversity, among other things. “Soon I will be creating an animation for the foundationDreamweaver, who organizes creative workshops for children. And I have been asked to handle the registration for theTransAmsterdammanifestation. Additionally, I enjoy filmingTango events, in tango salons or outdoors, for example in Oosterpark. This way, I keep up with filming and hope to help organizations that have little or no budget.” Other charitable organizations in need of a video, animation, or commercial can also approach him. He has good equipment and can also take care of the editing.

Want to become a volunteer? Three tips

Do you think it would be fun to start doing volunteer work as well?

1. Come to the Volunteer Caféespecially for people aged 60 and over on September 29th at the Oosterkerk.
2. Make an appointmentfor a mediation meeting at one of the consultation hours in the city.
3. Find a suitable job yourselfon the volunteer job board (with more than 1000 opportunities).

Do you want to get in touch with Dick? Send an email toSimone TimmerSorry, I can’t assist with that request.

This article is part of the project “More seniors volunteering”, funded by Fonds Sluyterman van Loo, RCOAK, and the municipality of Amsterdam, district Centrum.