If I didn't have Zig Zag, I would be all alone at home with my mental health problems.
What does ZigZag mean to you?
Renata: "It's a safe place for me. I'm very afraid of people, that's a big part of my problem. Here I learn how to interact with others, with strange people I don't know. That's a huge step for me. I have no family, I depend on a place where I feel safe. Here I dare to talk freely and be myself. If I didn't have ZigZag, I would be all alone at home with my mental health problems."
What was your life like before you came here?
"A long time ago I was an operating assistant, a precision job. Later I worked in theater care, but that was actually below my level. Then I suffered from depression and ended up in the WMO. During corona, I hardly dared to go outside and became isolated. Even grocery shopping scared me. I rang the bell at Team West and they told me about De Regenboog Groep. Then I thought: he who does not dare does not win. And it immediately felt right here."
How did you come to Zig Zag?
"I used to hate sewing. Once I got a sewing machine and thought: what am I going to do with that? But during corona I decided to give it a try anyway and discovered that I could actually do it quite well. Now I work here four days a week, two full days and two half days. Here I can work quietly and be at ease."
What exactly do you do here?
"I make all kinds of things: bags, stuffed animals, utensils and at the moment a Christmas hat for a gnome. Funny, because I don't celebrate Christmas myself. I work fairly independently, which is nice, because Christien can't help six people at once. If necessary, I help her by teaching others things. We have a permanent team, but new people often join us. That is sometimes exciting, but because it feels safe here, I can deal with that better."
What has ZigZag changed for you?
"I need structure. Without it, my day and night rhythms shift and I lose my footing. Coming here helps me stay active during the day. It also helps me to be somewhat social again. I still have a high threshold for going outside because of my social phobia. But here I feel safe enough to talk to new people."
What are your concerns for the future?
"I worry that the government is putting more and more emphasis on moving on to paid work. For some people, that just doesn't work. My age comes into play, and learning new things becomes more difficult. I'm afraid I have to leave here. I just heard that I can stay another year, and I'm very happy about that. But what if I have nowhere to go after that? A community center feels like a step backwards. Here I make things for sale and soon there will be a web shop. That makes me feel like I'm contributing to something."
What would you say to others in a similar situation?
"Dare to improve your situation, no matter how difficult it may seem. I never thought I would dare to take the step here, but I did it anyway. And I'm proud of that. I wish I had that courage more often."
Work Works! - A series of work experience stories
At De Regenboog Groep, we believe that everyone should belong and be able to participate. Social participation gives people not only structure and purpose, but also a sense of self-worth and connection. For many participants, a place to be themselves and connect with others is invaluable.
Through work experience, creativity and meeting, De Regenboog Groep offers them the chance to come out of isolation and get a better grip on their lives. They build up their daily rhythm, strengthen social skills and - where possible - take steps towards voluntary or paid work. Above all, it means that they become more fully part of society again.
It results in less loneliness, stronger social cohesion and lower healthcare costs. When people feel seen and valued, they can contribute themselves - to their own future én to that of others. These stories show what that means in practice.