A football school in Beilen combats loneliness in the municipality of Midden-Drenthe. Initiator Niels Maagd believes this is important not only during Christmas, but throughout the year.
Footballskills Drenthe, the name makes you think: it has to do with football. That is partly true. Virgo says it is more than just football. “We have the football school, of course, but we also organize walking tours to get people out of isolation. We also provide resilience training at schools and therefore combat loneliness among both young and old.”
People who are lonely, need support or deserve it can be reported anonymously by others. Virgo then visits those people personally and brings them a present. But it doesn’t stop there: “We will enter into dialogue and see in which areas we can help these people even more. Loneliness is difficult for people and this does not only apply to the elderly. Loneliness is everywhere.”
One of the people helped by the football school is Wendy Weelink from Beilen. She entered a difficult period after a divorce. “As a single mother, it is sometimes very difficult to be alone. I live for my children, and when they are with their father at Christmas, for example, it is very difficult for me. I find that terrible. You can then feel really lonely, despite that you have children.”
After Virgo’s visit and participation in the walking tours of the Beiler football school, Weelink is doing better and better. “It has certainly been a helping hand. You are more open to other people. If I had not had this visit and the conversations with Niels, I would not have been as far as I am now. You really feel loved for a while. Just as warm.”
That is Virgo’s motivation: “That’s what we do it for. You see someone grow, regain her self-confidence. That makes us so good. We are very happy with that.”
He believes it is important to really mean something to fellow human beings: “It’s not just giving a present and walking away. But what can you really mean to someone? Take people into the special, beautiful world we have.” The ultimate Christmas spirit: “Together, not alone.”