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There was always a warm welcome at home, and I have learned that it's perfectly normal to help other people. That's deeply ingrained. When a recruitment agency invited me to apply for the position of Chairman of the board for the Red Cross Amsterdam-Amstelland I was very happy to talk about the possibility. Their search for someone with management and supervisory experience and a more inclusive interpretation of the role had brought them to me. The click was mutual.” 
 
“Since 2018, I head up the district organisation together with the District manager. The manager does the day-to-day direction; I translate the national course into local policy lines and vice versa. As a board, we believe it is important to reflect the local colour and the local character of our region in our policy. The problems of the city, with its enormous diversity, distinguish us from many other districts. And that is reflected in people's needs and our programmes. For example, we help at the food banks, support people with no identity papers, and help with the winter shelter.” 
 
Corona lessons

 “In 2021 we have kept ourselves occupied with the lessons learned from the corona crisis. How can we do more for people in need? The pandemic had brought to light groups that we had not seen before. People who suddenly found themselves with no income, were made homeless and ended up wandering the streets. In order to give people the right support, we have actively made contact with municipalities, care institutions, funds and donors. 'Amsterdammers' have helped their fellow city residents en masse. We have to sustain this positive energy with these partners. We need their support desperately, certainly now that emergency aid is needed in multiple areas. For instance, supplying food and shelter, but also transport, psycho-social support and medical care.” 

“For 2022 and beyond, a fine, challenging route lies before the Dutch Red Cross. This will involve building on a diverse and inclusive organisation, which potential volunteers and professionals can identify themselves with and feel at home. That must be just as normal as the thing that we do based on our core principles: offering help to everyone, in the Netherlands and throughout the world.” 

“The Zeeland district's media team wants more people to hear about the Red Cross. So they came up with the idea of making vlogs about the work of volunteers. Vlogs are short films for social media. Because they want to make young people enthusiastic as well, they looked for a junior reporter. My father, who is a volunteer with the Red Cross, asked me if I wanted to do that. I needed no time to think about it and immediately said yes.” 

“Six months ago I started as a junior reporter. So far we have made two vlogs. The last one was with Board member Henny Keereweer at the Watersnood (Flood disaster) museum. But the thing I remember most from this year is the first film. Then I interviewed two volunteers who took elderly people to the vaccination centre. They were such kind people. Everything was new to me at that time and I still had a lot to learn. For example, I didn't expect that it would be necessary to keep on filming over and again." 

Wishes for 2022 

“Would you like to watch my vlogs? You can find them on the YouTube channel of Red Cross Zeeland.[please include link] I see that people enjoy them, because I get some very nice reactions. Next year I hope to do some more interviews. I myself would like to speak to Marleen Sijbers, the Mayoress of Tholen. I'm curious to know what she thinks of the Red Cross and our voluntary work.”
“What my wishes are for the Red Cross on 2022? That we can make more young people enthusiastic about the great work that we do. For example, there are still not many schools where we give first aid courses. We all need to tell people more often about how nice it is be be a volunteer with the Red Cross. And on the social media. I'm keen to help to do this with my vlogs.

“My father had already always been involved in the field of safety. Among other things, he was a safety officer at the local refinery here in Sint Eustatius and held the office of head of the fire brigade. In addition, he gave first aid lessons. I have personally trained to be a nurse for a year. So the idea of 'caring for others' was instilled in me from an early age. When I saw the vacancy at the Red Cross, I applied immediately.” 
 
“As Branch manager I have been responsible since May for day-to-day matters, the planning and the communication of the Red Cross on our Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius. Now, seven months later, I have already learned so much. For example, about how big our organisation actually is not, and how people view things differently all round the world. That broadens your mind, and helps you with your personal growth.” 

Looking back and looking forward 

“If I look back at this year, together with all the volunteers I have carried out some great projects, like the school project. A lot of the parents have no money for things for school and a school uniform. We help them with this, so that every child can go to school. The Soup Kitchen is another special project. With that, we provide meals to those who couldn't pay for them themselves. We started on 2 November with twenty meals; before we knew it fifty people came along.” 

“If it is up to me, we will sustain the upward trend of our tender loving care next year. My big wish for 2022 is that we can attract more volunteers. Preferably young people as well. They can carry on developing their talents with us. Starting with first aid, but for example we also support nurses in their training. In addition, we want to take our first aid basic lessons to the primary schools. More awareness and recognition in the community means that we are continuing to grow on Sint Eustatius.”