What if things don't go quite as expected? Even then, it can still turn out to be an incredibly meaningful afternoon!
Sustainable Development Goals:
The plan had been a summer stroll to the ice cream shop. But when it rains, that’s not exactly what you feel like doing. Fortunately, with a little flexibility from everyone involved, an alternative came up in no time: a short walk to the community center on the corner to play games together.
And whether you’re eating ice cream or playing a game together, in the end, it’s all about the connection. As activities coordinator Raphaella Kersten explains: “Without corporate volunteers, an outing like today’s couldn’t be organized, especially during the summer when when there are fewer staff members. It’s really nice that we can do fun things like this.”
The volunteers also went home feeling fulfilled. Team captain Sjef Haagmans sums up his colleagues’ experiences: “As a large company, we wanted to make a difference in the community, but we got at least as much in return. The gratitude, the conversations, and the happy faces really made an impression. At the same time, we noticed how an experience like this brings us closer together as colleagues. That’s what makes afternoons like this incredibly valuable.” An English-speaking colleague adds: “Even with the language barrier, I really enjoyed being able to make a difference for these seniors. And as an expat, it also gave me a deeper connection to the community here.”
One of the participants from Hof van Strijp insisted on thanking all the volunteers individually at the end of the afternoon. If that doesn’t say it all about what a wonderful afternoon it was.
