She was the director and face of Stichting Vluchteling for more than twenty years. But now Tineke Ceelen from Maren-Kessel stops. She can no longer combine the work with her diabetes. Over the years, she has seen the attitude towards refugees change considerably.
Tineke Ceelen traveled all over the world for the Refugee Foundation. She went to conflict areas, refugee camps and places where there were disasters and wars. “That is the only way to show and feel the suffering. And to tell the stories of people. I wanted to be able to judge what they needed. I didn’t want to hear that from organizations, but from the people themselves.”
Ceelen was born and raised in Maren-Kessel. There her interest in the suffering of fellow human beings is aroused. “My father gave generously to the mission. In exchange, we received leaves and reports at home with stories from Africa. I looked at it with great eagerness. I wanted to go there and help,” she explains.
Despite the fact that she no longer lives here, Ceelen still feels really Brabanter. “I have never let Brabant go. I also have the emphasis and I am not bothering to get rid of it. Brabant stands for warmth and hospitality.”
“People nowadays have tough and easy judgments.”
According to Ceelen, the attitude towards refugees has changed considerably. “The support is decreasing. People nowadays have rock -hard and easy judgments. They no longer want to take care of each other. Look at what is going on around the asylum seekers’ center in Berlicum. People have protested so hard that the azc is not coming. What do you say with that? You let refugees stand in the cold and give you the signal that you, if you are hard.”
She also sees a huge change in national politics. “The fact that the Netherlands is going to cut 2.4 billion on development cooperation is embarrassing. The richest countries are cutting back on the poorest people.” Yet there is also another side. “We also get more and more donors and money from people who want to put something in return at Stichting Vluchteling.”
“I have seen all the misery of the world, it’s enough.”
Ceelen stops as director of the Refugee Foundation because she is chronically ill. Although she will remain as an adviser for the time being. “I have insulin -dependent diabetes. I have had that for years, but I have never adjusted my lifestyle to it. I feel less and less less good because of all the irregularity and stress. My health is under pressure. I have to keep my illness under control. I am a single mother. If I want to walk next to my daughter I have to do something. I have seen all the misery of the world.”