Marike & Henriëtte share: "Reciprocity!"

The fact that twenty-three-year-old May would start volunteering at the StijldansKlup in Apeldoorn is purely coincidental. As a rebellious teenager, with pink hair, ripped jeans, and heavy metal as her favorite music genre, she determined her own path in life. She left her parental home when she was eighteen and tried her luck with various studies. She did several internships, but when she got in touch with the Klup in Apeldoorn through her sister, it was immediately clear to May: that’s where she wanted to do her next internship. She was drawn to the commitment of the volunteers, the pleasant atmosphere, and the camaraderie: “Much better than other places where I was used as cheap labor.” Because her initially chosen studies did not give her what she was looking for, she ultimately chose direct contact with elderly people. For two years now, she has found joy in her work in elderly care, assisting people with dementia. “Fantastic work, in which I don’t pursue an ambitious future, but I do find my passion.” The studies are now completed and the internships are over, but the Klup has remained. She is a volunteer in a flex pool there, which makes it easy for her to fit the work at the StijldansKlup into her busy life. There is laughter when her dance skills are mentioned: “No dance skills, but definitely a sense of rhythm. Enjoy moving and having fun with the participants and other volunteers. Chatting, drinking coffee or tea, and then trying out different styles. The first participants are eager half an hour before we start. Amazing, but not all of them are aiming for a gold star,” May also downplays her own competencies. “Young people of my generation want to do something good; to make a difference. However, they don’t always know where to start. That is complicated, but this volunteer work is such a start for me.” May still lives on her own and has a lovely boyfriend. Her pink hair has since returned to its natural color. Even her jeans are without holes, and only an Iron Maiden pajama top betrays her metal past. The values she learned at home, which she temporarily set aside during her rebellious phase, she has embraced again. She happily continues with her life and even has a follow-up study planned for the upcoming fall. “I don’t aim to pursue a master’s degree, but I do want to make progress in my work with the elderly. The volunteer job at the Klup is close to my heart because I don’t think I could work with this group professionally. But at the Klup, nothing is mandatory, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it’s always a good time. That makes this volunteer work great.”

Regular calls for buddies are posted on "Apeldoorn Pakt Aan." What does it mean to be a buddy? To get a clearer picture, we speak with Naftali Felipa (30 years old), a volunteer at Maatjes Apeldoorn. Naftali was born and raised in Apeldoorn and recently got her own apartment. She works in Nijmegen as a product/marketing manager. Family is very important to her, and she is a true family person. Additionally, she has various hobbies: baking and cooking, visiting museums, walking, boxing, and yoga. And alongside all these activities, she is a buddy for a fellow city resident once every two weeks. There was an immediate connection! Naftali signed up with Maatjes Apeldoorn and is now a buddy to a lovely 86-year-old lady. "The lady was always active and social, but this decreased over time. To help her get out more and socialize, I became her buddy. During the first meeting, the coordinator from Maatjes Apeldoorn came along for an introduction. We both felt good about it and there was an immediate connection. We then made an appointment and did something fun two weeks later. We do a variety of activities together. In December, we visited the Christmas market in Vaassen, went out for dinner, or attended activities at the care home – very diverse. We have contact every other week. By doing activities together, she socializes more. We also practiced using the taxi service. I arrange to meet her, and she comes by taxi. She manages this independently and gets picked up and dropped off neatly. By practicing this, she can more easily visit her children or attend an activity. This helps her to undertake things more independently." Little effort Naftali was doing a part-time course and heard from a teacher that he was a buddy. "When he talked about it, I was inspired to do the same. I immediately searched to become a buddy in Apeldoorn. I found it, but didn't do anything about it at that moment because I was going to travel in Asia for six months. After my trip, I came across it again and signed up immediately. I thought: 'Why not? Everyone always has time to do something for someone else.' I find it important to contribute to society and help someone. It takes little effort and time from me. This could even be during a phone call where we laugh and listen to each other. There is mutual interest in each other, and that makes me happy." Clarity The time Naftali spends as a buddy is, despite her busy life, easy to combine. "Because there is a connection, it feels like it takes very little time. It also helps to make clear agreements so that you know each other's expectations. We agreed to meet on a fixed day every two weeks. How long we meet varies per activity and we coordinate that together. Sometimes it lasts longer, sometimes shorter, depending on the activity. Together we decide what activity to do, so we both enjoy it. This way, it doesn't feel like it takes up my time at all." Inspire and Discover Naftali really enjoys being a buddy. She loves to tell others about it and has discovered something about herself. "I enjoy talking about the Maatjes Apeldoorn project. I always get positive and interested reactions. I hope to inspire others to do something for someone else. Besides hoping to inspire others, I have discovered something about myself. I thought I wasn't really into caregiving and didn't have much patience for it. But now I've realized that I have more of a caring side than I expected. A wonderful discovery!"

It's Monday morning, and today we've arranged to meet Marjolein at the beautiful Groot Schuylenburg. She is Ramon's buddy, and today she is visiting him again. Meeting Ramon immediately lifted our spirits, and we received a very warm welcome. What a cheerful way to start a new week on a Monday morning! Ramon is very happy to see Marjolein again and excitedly shares his weekend adventures. He visited Drenthe to see the hunebedden, went visiting, ate pancakes, and had many more experiences that he loves to talk about. Marjolein visits Ramon about once a month, and they always go on a fun outing together. These outings vary greatly. "I often don’t plan far in advance and decide the same week what we’re going to do, so I can also check if the weather is good," says Marjolein. "We plan the outings spontaneously, so it’s a surprise for Ramon and not an expectation that could lead to disappointment if things don’t go as planned. This way, I can also easily fit it around my work. It’s nice that I can coordinate this well with the support team." For Ramon, the outings are always fantastic. It’s a special time just for him, and he truly gets to escape. Ramon loves talking about the outings with Marjolein. When asked what he enjoys doing, he eagerly responds. "Having an ice cream at IJs van Co!" he exclaims immediately. He also mentions the steam train, a trip to Zutphen, eating pancakes, and visiting Intratuin during Christmas with great enthusiasm! In short, Marjolein is all about the fun things. "The outings are a big party for Ramon, but certainly also for me," says Marjolein. "She is a friend to me!" Ramon exclaims enthusiastically. Marjolein agrees and sees Ramon as a friend who gives her a lot of energy. "Ramon’s cheerfulness and warmth are so enlightening and very disarming," Marjolein explains. We definitely noticed this, as everyone is greeted warmly, and a friendly chat is shared with everyone. "Marjan!!!" Ramon calls out exuberantly to an acquaintance, and we have many pleasant stops during our walk. By the end of the morning, we are completely recharged. The connection between Marjolein and Ramon is fantastic to see and genuinely uplifting. We have truly experienced the energy you get as a buddy and what it brings to the other person, but also to yourself. If you want to become a buddy too, Marjolein has a tip. "Find what really suits you and make sure there is a connection. I enjoy going on outings, but there are also buddies needed for other activities that might suit someone else better." Inge, the Volunteer Coordinator at ’s Heeren Loo in Apeldoorn, can certainly confirm this. "We are always looking for enthusiastic buddies who can make a difference in the lives of our clients. These can be caring, calm, and kind buddies, but also enthusiastic, cheerful, and direct people. Buddies who like to be outdoors or those who are creative or perhaps musical. Buddies who enjoy socializing or those who seek peace and quiet. Sometimes it’s an hour a week, and sometimes it’s a part of a day each month. During the week, during the day, in the evening, or on the weekend. In short, everyone is welcome, and I’d love to meet you. Together we’ll see who might suit you and what makes you happy. You then meet your buddy and their support team without any obligation, and only if there is a mutual connection will a registration process follow. Each group has a contact person for the volunteers, ensuring that the volunteer gets the right tools and information. Additionally, as a volunteer, you can follow online training courses specifically developed for volunteers."