Rita's heart for refugee work
Rita's heart for refugee work
Together with her daughter, Rita started as a volunteer at the Eersel refugee working group six years ago. Guiding status holders and refugees is intensive but rewarding volunteer work that seems to fit Rita perfectly. This is particularly apparent with the arrival of about 50 Ukrainian refugees in the Weltenlocation in Vessem. In this article she shares her experience story.
100 strong
Rita: When I started as a refugee volunteer - that was with the arrival of the Syrian refugees - the number of volunteers in Vessem could only be counted on one hand. Today we are 100 strong. The flow of Ukrainian refugees has played a major role in this. I was told that they needed shelter and immediately rang the bell with the municipality. Together with the municipality and volunteer work support center Eerselvoorelkaar, we started refurbishing the Welten building and set everything up. It was a very nice collaboration. When the plans took shape, I called the village council to call for extra volunteers. We had added our contact details and in no time we received so many mails and my WhatsApp exploded! “I still have this, I can still do that,” that's how it went. People really donated everything. From bicycles to furniture, but also toiletries, toys and clothing.
'Hotel' Welten
When you now enter the Weltengebouw you think 'it's like a hotel here'. In the main dining room, a towel is placed on the 'note this is my chair' chairs, just like by the pool. There is also a common room with fridges. The room numbers are printed on the refrigerators, so that there is no confusion as to who belongs to whom. In 'hotel' Welten there are also various activities. Language coaches come twice a week and yoga is also taught by a Ukrainian woman whom we have placed with a host family in Vessem. I'm really proud that this is possible!
versatile volunteer work
Volunteering for refugees is very versatile. You are actually a carer, because you arrange everything for them, from insurance and benefits to residence cards and hospital visits. Sometimes I even babysit the kids. I like to do that. I always think: 'these people have no one else who can do that for them'.
They always know where to find me if they want to arrange something. And if an employee of the homeless institution NEOS has already said no, they will just try again with me. Fortunately I am very involved with NEOS and we know what is going on with each other. It therefore never happens that false promises are made.
I am also ready if something happens in the Weltengebouw. Recently the fire alarm went off in one week, a child had fallen hard and the tap was broken. Although I officially only visit twice a week, it is very nice to be ready for these kinds of incidents. This volunteer work is not without obligation. It is true that I experience much less pressure when volunteering, because you really do it for someone else.
In addition to arranging things, you are also a familiar face to whom the refugees can tell their story. They really tell everything they experience in a day. We use Google Translate to communicate, because most of them don't speak English. That's a comfort to me. I'm not a star at this myself. I learned from the Syrians that there is also an app that allows you to scan texts with your phone's camera and automatically translate the texts. This is how we come to understand each other very far. You do notice a difference between the European and Arab refugees. Ukrainians are not that open and actually tell few stories about what they experienced there. They all want to be friends with me on Facebook. The Syrians are generally more hospitable. For example, in a Syrian family that I visit regularly, I am always spoiled with food and drink. The little one also always says 'you should stay here for dinner and sleep over'.
Challenges
One of the best things about my work as a volunteer is seeing that the refugees become more and more self-reliant through my help and find their way in society. These people have had a hard time, but despite that they are picking up their lives again. In Vessem, for example, there was a Syrian who really wanted his own hairdressing salon. He has it now! It gives me a good feeling that I can make this possible and that something actually works.
Of course I also have my challenges. For example, I find it hard to let go. At the beginning, when they are only in the village, you are really the point of contact for all kinds of organizations around refugee reception. Once they have found their way and everything is arranged, the outside world doesn't always need you anymore. That is sometimes difficult.
Helping people's energy
I often get compliments for my volunteer work. That makes me shy. By nature I'm just someone who wants everything to be well arranged. Apparently that is a quality that is greatly appreciated. You really get energy from helping people and you should be happy that you have the opportunity to do it. Not everyone can say that. I would therefore like to encourage anyone who can to do volunteer work. Find out where you can get started in your area, or sign up at Eerselvoorelkaar.
Proud of volunteers like Rita
Mariëlle Voermans, coordinator of the volunteer work support center Eerselvoorelkaar: Rita's commitment is unprecedented. The facility for the reception of Ukrainian refugees was an intense period in which Rita was indispensable. We can always rely on her for guidance and support for the refugees. We are proud of Rita and of course also of the many other volunteers, especially the other members of the Eersel Refugee Working Group, who are ready every day for status holders and refugees in our municipality.
indispensable help
Eefjes buddy project
A buddy in corona time Attention for each other with the buddy project Below you can read the story of Eefje Heesterbeek, who as a professional at Cordaad Welzijn is responsible for the buddy project, among other things. The corona period had direct consequences for the work of Eefje and the many volunteers of this organization. Activities of Cordaad Welzijn Cordaad Welzijn is committed to people in a vulnerable situation. These can be elderly people with a small social network, informal carers or people who have difficulty with their administration. Cordaad Welzijn is a welfare organization that operates in the municipalities of Valkenswaard, Cranendonck, Heeze-Leende and Veldhoven and that, in addition to its commitment to informal carers, also focuses on young people and refugees. In the Kempen we work with eight professionals. Together we manage about 250 volunteers who are committed to the people in the Kempen. We do this in different ways. For example, we support people with their administration, we coordinate various self-help groups, we support (young) informal carers, our volunteers support people and their loved ones in a final phase of life and our volunteers visit people who need more social contact. We call this last group of volunteers buddies and I am the coordinator. Switching When the coronavirus shut down our country for the first time in March 2020, we immediately stopped our services and asked our volunteers to maintain contact with their client in other ways. Cards were sent and people waved at the window. Calls were made by telephone, but also by computer. For many of my volunteers it was a switch; this time called for a different way of helping clients. When we were allowed to start again in June, many volunteers couldn't wait to start again. They had missed the physical visits! A world of difference Corona has also brought insights. Where some volunteers for corona sometimes visited someone for a whole afternoon, they have now noticed that it is not about the length of the visit. The mere fact that you visit someone else, inform how someone else is doing and pay attention to the other person makes a world of difference. dark days From the autumn, the number of people calling on us increased. The winter months have always been difficult for the people we visit, but this year it is even more so. Two years with corona We are now almost two years later and we continue to provide our services. This is of course also up to the volunteers themselves. I am in constant contact with volunteers and I give them the space to make their own choice: if something doesn't feel right, don't do it. Or talk to the other person and try to find a solution together. Even now there are volunteers who do not visit physically but maintain contact by telephone. New volunteers Recently I have seen an increase in younger volunteers. So nice to notice! They are enthusiastic people who see the loneliness around them and who want to mean something to someone else. Sometimes from an assignment for school, sometimes also for own reasons. It is nice to see that a new group of volunteers now feels addressed. Are you also interested in visiting someone? We have several open applications. I would be happy to talk to you to see if I can link you to one of our clients. You can send me an email or call me on 06-58797156. All requests for help in the municipality of Eersel can also be found at www.eerselvoorelkaar.nl As a buddy you make the difference Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward
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