Staying Active with the Elderly
For Michael, the true value of volunteering lies in connecting with other people.
One activity that has stayed with him was spending time and staying active with the elderly. It was much more than simply going for a walk together. It was about sharing time, having conversations, and listening to different life stories. Experiences like these encourage you to look at society from a broader perspective.
“You realise how important attention and personal contact can be. Sometimes the value is not so much in what you do, but simply in being there.”
Connected to Eindhoven
For Michael, volunteering is closely connected to the city where he lives and works. He joined DAF in 1996 and has built a strong connection with Eindhoven over the years. It is the region where he lives, works, and spends his daily life, just like many of his colleagues.
“Eindhoven is growing rapidly and there is so much happening. That is exactly why it is important that we continue to connect with and support one another. Not everyone automatically benefits from all the developments in the city.”
More Than Extra Pairs of Hands
to Michael, there is still a great deal of untapped potential in corporate volunteering.
Many people immediately associate volunteering with practical support. While that is certainly valuable, companies also have a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer.
Within an organisation like DAF, people have technical expertise, organisational skills, logistics experience, and project management knowledge. Michael sees plenty of opportunities to share these skills with community organisations more often.
“Some organisations face challenges where a fresh perspective or specific expertise could already make a real difference. I think companies could play an even bigger role in that.”
In his view, this creates a partnership that benefits everyone involved. You help an organisation move forward, use your own knowledge and experience in a different setting, and at the same time learn something new yourself.
