Whether you have financial problems, don’t get along well with family members or don’t know how to fill your days: everyone encounters difficult situations in everyday life. Deborah van der Bol (43) and her colleagues are ready for you.
Deborah has worked for eight years as a supervisor at Impegno, part of effort (the central entrance for residents of Zoetermeer with a request for help). “At Impegno we offer temporary care to people with psychological problems,” explains Deborah. “If you can’t make it yourself or can’t keep up with society, we’ll come by to help you get back on track.”
Different types of help
There are eight different habitats that Deborah and her colleagues support, for adults as well as for youth or the whole family:
- Psychological functioning
- Social functioning
- Housing
- Finance
- Daytime activities
- Meaning
- Practical functioning
- Physical functioning
“Of course, that often gets mixed up,” explains Deborah. “If you can’t manage it financially, it often has psychological consequences, for example. And with psychological complaints, social functioning can also be difficult. During a (telephone) screening at inZet, you are asked thoroughly, so that it is first determined exactly which organization can best help you and with what.”
From sitting on the blisters to trusting life again
Then Deborah comes into the picture. “As supervisors, we work very independently. That’s great, because we come to the clients’ homes or speak to them on location or via image bubbles. We therefore know exactly where their needs lie. They are often very grateful, but then I always say: we do it together. We can achieve a lot with just an hour a week.”
Deborah takes a good look at what you need as a person to get your daily life back on track. “Not every day can be perfect, but when I see clients more often with a smile on their face, I’m happy. I think it’s great to see them regain their strength again. One boy, for example, had done it all wrong around the age of eighteen and had to sit on the blisters for that. It is wonderful that after my guidance he now has a nice job, an independent home and confidence in life and care again.”
Talking is good for everyone
What Deborah would like to achieve is that the taboo on seeking help disappears. “I think the word ‘shame’ should be taken out of the dictionary. Everyone runs into problems at some point in life or has questions. Even if you don’t think it’s important or if you only have one question, I think it’s important that you can ask us or elsewhere in an accessible way.”
The term ‘psychological complaints’ may therefore sound a bit intense, but it’s not about what you call it, Deborah thinks. “One suffers from the rain, so to speak, the other from the sun. We should not judge each other and realize that it is nice for everyone to talk to someone about it.”
Need a push in the right direction?
Do you also need a listening ear or practical support? inZet is the central entrance for residents of Zoetermeer with a request for help and has a partnership with nine organizations and five partners, each with its own specialism. For example, you can easily contact various care providers in the following areas with your care or assistance request:
- Money and administration
- Living and environment
- Health and Balance
- Family and relationships
- Participate in society
Here you can read what inZet could do for you. “If you could also use some help, then you are very welcome at inZet and Impegno”, concludes Deborah. “It is completely voluntary and non-binding, so if it doesn’t quite suit you or if your request for help has been resolved, you can always stop.”
Also commit yourself to fellow townspeople
Have you become enthusiastic about Deborah’s story and are you looking for a nice job in the heart of the neighborhood? on the website of inZet you will find the vacancies that are currently open. You can also find more information about volunteer opportunities here. In this way you can mean something to someone else in an accessible way, be active and develop your own talents.