Sander (44) combines his regular job with volunteering at the walk-in centre
.Work that doesn't feel like work
"During the first lockdown, I heard from a colleague about the call for help at the walk-in centres. Well, we work in the hospitality industry, so we could help. Since then, I have worked at several De Regenboog walk-in centres: Blaka Watra, Zeeburg and De Kloof. At the latter I enjoyed it the most. And when I went back to my regular work after the first lockdown, I noticed that I missed working there. It didn't feel like work. I got a lot of energy from it and always came back happy.
So I signed up as a regular volunteer at De Kloof. Even though the catering business is open again: I can be at De Kloof in the afternoon and then go to work in the evening, it's just very compatible.
Stories that touch deeply
.I can be there caring: preparing food, making coffee and talking to people. This can be serious ...and sometimes there is incredible chatter, because there is also a need for laughter. I also hear stories that touch me deeply. And that is sometimes difficult. But then there is the team, which feels like a warm bath. How the coordinators deal with the people, including me as a volunteer, feels really good. I can only have praise for that. Since doing this work a few hours a week, I've learned how big a small gesture can be, even outside the walk-in centre. It's okay to be a little nice to a homeless person. Of course you can say "no," but it's also best to do it in a nice way.
This is what I do it for
.We have our regular visitors, but sometimes people stay away for shorter or longer periods of time. So did a regular female visitor. She stopped coming and we didn't know what was going on. Until I ran into her in another part of town. It turned out that she had gotten a place to live. The reunion was so incredibly warm, she was so grateful, which made me know, 'This is what I do it for!'"
.Text: Sander Kersten and Jola Gosen | Image: Tessa Posthuma de Boer
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