Noa Vahle, Linda de Mol’s daughter, is annoyed that people talk about ‘refugees’ and a ‘crisis’ all the time. What does she call them? “People with a story.”
It bothers Noa Vahle immensely that there is such a negative sentiment in our country about refugees and asylum seekers. She feels involved with these people because she once helped at a camp on Lesbos, just like her cousin Johnny de Mol. There she worked on a sports program for refugee children.
Refugees
That work is meaningful and satisfying, Noa explains in the LINDA.meiden. “Those children had experienced the worst things, but by running after a ball for an hour, you saw them forget their misery for a moment.”
That period did her a lot, she says. “Here we talk about ‘refugees’ and ‘crisis’, but they are just people with a story, an education, a life they have left behind. When I hear others judge this, I start the conversation. Why do you see it that way?”
Incredible dick
Noa is very inspired by Johnny. “No, I am not going to stand on the Malieveld with a banner or block the A12. But I do think it is important to be socially involved. I often think about what Johnny taught me: if you have the ability to help others and you don’t, you’re an incredible prick.”
She continues: “I try to contribute where I can, in the form of donations, or through volunteer work for Movement On The Ground or the LINDA.foundation. That is important to me, especially because I have an extremely privileged life.”
Guilty
Does Noa feel guilty that she has a privileged position and uses it? “Sometimes, yes. Certainly. I don’t want people to think that I think that’s normal. It is something I am well aware of. I often get the comment that I entered the TV world with a wheelbarrow. Yes, I think, I know that myself.”
Does she find the wheelbarrow accusation annoying? “I’ve heard that wheelbarrow comment so many times that I can deal with it more easily now. I have more trouble with nasty, personal things being said. When my mother used to feel bad after negative reactions, I would say: don’t worry about it. Now I know it’s not that easy.”
Noa on Lesbos: