Selma Stegeman from Asten is the driving force behind the Joint Forces initiative. In doing so, she supports families of veterans and people in uniform. She knows from her own experience that the services and deployments of these men and women often place a heavy burden on their families. Selma offers them support and a listening ear. That is why she has a chance to win the title Brabander of the Year.
View all nominees and vote on our special voting page.
Selma herself is the partner of a veteran. Her husband Manuel worked in the forensic police and served as a soldier in Afghanistan. And that has left its mark. “Manuel dropped out with PTSD (ed. a post-traumatic stress disorder). Then there is a very nice process for him and a lot is arranged. That was great, the defense does that very well. But as a family you are a bit behind. I didn’t really know where we could get help.”
The fact that Manuel has PTSD not only affects him but his entire family, Selma knows: “We all have PTSD. Manuel is the carrier of it, but we also experience the consequences. He is very sensitive to stimuli, keeps to himself and he can be confused and forget things. That is not bad, but it is intense.”
That is why Selma founded Joint Forces, a group that is there for the home front. “I try to offer partners, children, loved ones or very good friends of (former) uniformed personnel a place where they can tell and share their story. And where they can also get advice about where to go.”
“I want to show people that they are not alone.”
“Not everyone has to have PTSD or have lost a leg,” Selma continues. “It may also be that someone wants to vent about a partner who always has changing shifts. Just the recognition that you are also there as a home front and have a story. I want to show people that they are not alone and bring them together.”
And that does not go unnoticed. For example, Selma has already spoken with King Willem-Alexander and outgoing Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans. “That was very nice and a great honor. I was invited for this by the BNMO, the Association of Dutch Military War and Service Victims. It was a very nice conversation. The king immediately started talking about the veterans, but I thought we would talk about the home front. He was able to switch gears well and joined in that conversation. I hope to plant a seed with this. If I say it and someone else does too, it will stick and more attention will be paid to the home front.”
“The profession of soldier or police officer is exciting, but there are also caveats.”
Selma tries to offer families help and support in the most accessible way possible. “You don’t have to tell a whole story or bare your whole soul. You can also just come and have a cup of coffee, just chat. Then I will give advice if they are waiting for it. And if that is not the case, that might come another time.”
But the veterans themselves are not forgotten either. For example, she helped organize a torchlight procession for and by veterans and she was one of the driving forces behind the Anjerperkje, a monument in Asten for veterans and their home front: “Because I think it is very important that they are seen. The profession of soldier or agent is very exciting and fun, but there are also quite a few caveats.”
According to Selma, it is often not noticed that the home front has to deal with this in all kinds of ways. “Although that is very important,” she concludes.
Winner announcement
On Christmas Day you will see on Omroep Brabant in a special TV broadcast and online who can call themselves the Brabander of the Year 2025.