Picking up trash in the neighborhood, raising money against cancer and teaching baseball to the youth. Five young Assen residents received an award from the municipality today because they committed themselves to others.
A red carpet has been rolled out in the town hall in Assen. One by one the children trickle in unsuspectingly. They were brought in with an excuse. “Take a seat in the council chamber,” says a municipal employee.
Friends and family are waiting for the children in the hall. Then it dawns on them that they have not been invited to the town hall for a normal appointment. “No, you will receive a youth ribbon because you perform heroic deeds,” deputy mayor Jan Broekema tells them enthusiastically.
11-year-old Ilian Seubring still can’t quite grasp it when Broekema pins on the ribbon. “I was going to interview someone,” he stammers. “I didn’t see this coming.” He owes the ribbon to Ella, a school friend who gave him up.
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