At every event they are jumping for it: volunteers. If they are not there, then the party will not take place at all. But where can you still find them? People who give up their day off to give others a nice moment.
13-year-old Iona Smeenge is one such person. With great pleasure she has been helping the Red Cross as a first aid worker for two years.
She sits calmly in her chair, watching hundreds of people try to hit a ball over the net during the Pentecost volleyball tournament in Ekehaar. If things go wrong and someone sprains an ankle or a finger is crooked, the first aid department is desperately needed. Smeenge – flanked by two older, grizzled first aiders – oversees everything and is ready to help.
Because that’s what she likes to do: helping other people. “And it’s also just a really fun activity to do,” she says with a big smile. And if she doesn’t mind giving up her free time? “No, certainly not. This is mainly a hobby, so no problem at all.
At the age of 11, Smeenge starts working for the Red Cross. Her parents have been volunteers for some time, so it’s a case of being ‘spooned up’. What the young first aid worker finds particularly interesting? “The blood,” she laughs. “Well, actually I think the whole body is interesting. But the blood is also just cool.”
13-year-old Smeenge enjoys volunteering at events: (text continues below video)