Dorpenzorg exists 10 years: ‘We are successful if we are superfluous’

In Weerdinge, Nieuw-Weerdinge, Emmer-Compascuum, Roswinkel, Foxel Scholtenskanaal and Emmer-Erfscheidenveen, Dorpenzorg offers help and support to everyone who needs it. From shopping service to homework assistance.

The tenth anniversary is not celebrated in a big way. “We have thought about it, but because we have a target group that is struggling financially, we don’t think it is appropriate,” say Jan Schoonbeek and Wim Katoen from Weerdinge and Nieuw-Weerdinge.

Both gentlemen stood at the cradle of the foundation. “We had a meeting with the six villages together,” explains Katoen. The six villages have been working closely together for decades. “We were talking about care and aid in the Netherlands at the time. And the government seemed to be withdrawing a bit.”

Then it was Schoonbeek who telephoned Katoen to ask whether anything else should be done with that idea. “Then we put our heads together. Immediately with the idea of ​​comparing the professional and voluntary tasks against each other. It was difficult in the beginning. The professionals do not want volunteers and the volunteers say that the professionals know everything” , says Cotton. “A lot of people also said about certain developments: that will never happen. The help remains with the care homes. Well, we were three or four years later and it was already happening.”

The idea behind establishing Dorpenzorg is to allow people to live in their own environment and village for as long as possible and with support. After a meeting attended by the municipality, police, welfare organization Sedna, home care organization Icare, De Zonnebloem foundation and other interested parties, Dorpenzorg (formerly Mondenzorg) was born. “It is a success because we were already working on what became reality a few years later,” says Schoonbeek.

Anyone who needs support can apply via the digital portal. Over the years, the foundation has organized various projects with one paid employee. For example, there is a shopping service for the elderly who can no longer do their own shopping and dining table evenings are organized where people can sit down.

There are also plans for the arrival of an electric bus. “It will arrive in November. A large electric passenger bus for seven people that can also accommodate a wheelchair. A volunteer will be appointed as a driver. This is because the number of bus drivers in this region is also decreasing,” the men summarized.

In addition, work is being done on a care pension in Emmer-Compascuum. A project in which healthcare institutions are involved, but also the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Emmen. “That’s really for the long term,” says Katoen. “There are many people who have been in hospital and who have been discharged there. They are now often nursed in Winschoten or Veendam. We want them to be able to go nearby.”

Not only are there projects and support for vulnerable elderly people, the young people are also in the spotlight. For example, budget information is given at secondary schools and the UWV benefits agency comes to the villages. For example, the youth nuisance in Nieuw-Weeringing has been tackled.

“But there are also families where the children go to secondary education and the parents cannot afford a computer,” says Schoonbeek. “Then they can get a computer from us.”

Homework guidance is now also being set up by the foundation. “We want the club that goes from primary to secondary education to get acquainted with what is expected in secondary school from group 7 or 8,” explains Katoen. “And then also monitor them. And offer the opportunity to provide guidance in village houses such as in De Badde (Eerste Exloërmond) or De Deele (Emmer-Compascuum).”

And there is a vision behind that, says Schoonbeek. “This is not the richest area of ​​Emmen. What we are also trying to do with this is to raise the level of education. And ultimately the income level. It is a long-term vision.”

Dorpenzorg received visitors from all over the country because the project attracted attention. A delegation from the House of Representatives also came by. “Sometimes I see spin-offs that I think: that’s ours,” says Katoen. “But I think that’s a good thing. Better stolen well than poorly conceived. Sometimes it gets a bit too commercial I see. That is not good. If it makes someone better, then you have to stop.”

The only paid employee of the foundation is youth worker Kim de Vries. The rest of Dorpenzorg runs on a permanent core of more than fifty volunteers, who serve the two so-called naoberhuuzn manage and process requests. It is also the volunteers who go to the people. “For example, someone does the dishes, so that home care can really focus on the client,” says Katoen. “It should never come at the expense of a job. It should be an addition.”

However, the problem of the volunteer shortage at Dorpenzorg also plays a role: “Nationally speaking, we are no exception. There are plenty of people who want to do something once in a while, but not structurally. You will run into that. But we will still make it.” according to Schoonbeek.

“We are also happy that young people are now stepping in,” adds Katoen. “For example, they also participated in the shopping service during the corona period. And they now also help with garden maintenance, for example.”

The big success? “Collaboration”, both men say at the same time. “We also have short lines. And a large network. It also has to do with the fact that the villages have always worked well with each other. And because we work with so many authorities, we also have an enormous signaling network.”

With rising energy costs, new challenges are also emerging. “We can already see it in the simple things, such as with the shopping service. The extras are no longer ordered,” explains the village chairman from Weerdinge. “Then we look again: how can we alleviate this?”

“Society changes every day. And we respond to the issues of the day. Our vision for the future has always been: we have succeeded if we are superfluous. But new challenges come our way every time. The excuse: we have no money and no volunteers, does not apply here. Then you just make sure that a solution is found”, the gentlemen conclude.