They are very honored, but down to earth enough to be really nervous. Tomorrow, five volunteers from Inloophuis de Bron from Zaandam will go to Noordeinde Palace for a meeting with the royal couple Willem-Alexander and Maxima. The drop-in center is one of the nominees for an Appeltje van Oranje. This is a prize of 25,000 euros that is awarded every year to social initiatives.
This year the theme is ‘bridge builders in the neighborhood’. And that is the best way to describe the walk-in center. It is in the middle of the Poelenburg district, located in an ordinary terraced house. Mildred Schuitemaker and Jacquelien Ootjers open the door for NH and give a small tour. It is not large, but it meets your needs perfectly.
Coffee moments, sewing lessons, beauty treatments; the range here is quite wide. Jacquelien and Mildred are both board members and help out in the house just as much as other volunteers. For example, every Thursday afternoon they provide a meal. “People first get a cup of coffee and have a nice chat,” says Jacquelien. “And afterwards they can join us for dinner, but that is not mandatory.”
“What does it mean? That you are seen.”
People don’t have to register to eat, or even say who they are if they don’t want to. “I think that anonymity is very important. That you can walk up and tell your story without anything being expected of you. What does it mean? That you are seen.”
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“We never know how many people will come,” laughs Mildred. “Sometimes you have ten, sometimes you have three.” They both say they enjoy the work. Jacquelien: “What we do is really fun and so inspiring.” You can tell from everything that she means it and is not just giving a promotional talk. “Look, I’ve been retired for ten years now. Here you meet young people, all kinds of people from the community, you name it. You stay at the center of life and just participate.”
Volunteers, but no specialists
A hard core of fourteen people ensure that the drop-in center runs. They are ‘normal’ volunteers, are often retired and they like to help people.
Enough volunteers here who bring their work experience to the work. Mildred was a social worker, Jacquelien a nurse and head of a surgical department. Chairman Alida Joachim Ruis supervises a homework class every Wednesday afternoon. Not an unknown job for her: she was a primary school director at various schools in the Zaan region for many years.
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We drive to her house to speak to the chairman, because she fell on her bicycle and broke her wrist. Although that shouldn’t spoil the fun, tomorrow she will be there at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.
Aren’t you nervous about tomorrow? Want to chat with Willem Alexander or Maxima?
“No, not at all. What would I be nervous about? I really enjoy talking about work. It’s so nice to meet people in the neighborhood. And yes, you know… there are really big problems here in Poelenburg. But by being there, you can do a little something for people.”
Do you think that the threshold for the drop-in center is lower than that of, for example, the Social Neighborhood Team?
“Certainly. People come to us for fun, that’s how it often starts. And sometimes things only come up afterwards.”
How do you view the nomination for an Apple for Orange? Are you proud?
“I really see it as a crowning achievement. You are seen.”
Back in the drop-in center you hear the same story. Mildred: “It takes a lot of hard work to achieve that.” Jacquelien: “We have come into view, I think that is something. We were not in the picture, but now we are. It is something if your foundation is nominated and perhaps wins and receives such an amount to contribute. to be able to continue. I think it is a great honor anyway, also for this district.”
View via this link all nominations for an Apple of Orange.
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