David, how long have you been involved with the Red Cross? 

“I have been a Red Cross volunteer since 2018. I came to the Netherlands as a refugee in the 1990s. This country welcomed me with open arms. I feel obliged to give something back to the society that has given so much to me. That is why I joined the Red Cross, among other things.” 

You understand refugees from the heart. Can you talk about that a bit more?  

David: “Having been a refugee myself, I can empathise with what refugees feel. That is why I think it is important to mean something to them. I meet many refugees at the Humanitarian Helpdesk in Rotterdam. People come to us asking for help. Sometimes just a cup of coffee is enough. When you look into the eyes of these people you see that they are truly struggling.” 

Harm, when did you realise: the Red Cross suits me?  

“During the job interviews, it was often about: do I fit in with the Red Cross and does the Red Cross suit me? At the time, I once went to Amstelveen incognito to get a feel for the voluntary work. There was Britt van der Pol, she works on patient transport. She and her team were so passionate about their voluntary work. I was quizzing her, while she thought I was coming as a volunteer. This was a crucial moment for me. Then I realised: this is the organisation I want to belong to. So meeting Britt had an enormous impact on me.” 

Harm, you arrive from Unilever, can you notice a shift in culture? And if you can, how are you handling it? 

“The shift in culture is not too bad. The biggest change so far is the huge social impact. The organisation matches my passion: people. I could not work at just any charity organisation. The Red Cross has a huge focus on people, which appeals to me the most. This organisation has impact on a large and small scale. From the victims of the earthquake in Morocco to an individual who can buy food with a grocery card. The volunteers and professionals I meet at the Red Cross are just as focused and professional as the people at Unilever. The difference is in the drive. I am really impressed by the dedication and professionalism of Red Crossers.” 

A challenge for the Red Cross is to effectively reflect society. How do you see this Harm? 

Harm: “One of my wishes is that we will be an even more diverse organisation in five years' time. More diversity will ensure that we are a good reflection of society and that we are placed even more at the heart of society. I think that is still quite a task. From my experience, I can say that the best teams I have worked in are the most diverse teams. That is where the best results come from.”   

David, what is the best thing you have done for the Red Cross in the last five years?  

“In fact, there are two events. A few weeks back, I helped a single lady. She had no money to buy food and needed help acutely. We wanted to send a food card, but that takes 1-2 days. So I brought the card to her myself. She was immediately in tears, she grabbed my hand and said, 'God's blessing'. That conversation lasted maybe two minutes, but the depth was enormous. Certainly as deep as the ocean. This is why I do it, this is the Red Cross. 

Another moment was on a dark autumn evening during a deployment for Transport and More. With a fellow volunteer, I was transporting an elderly lady. At first she was scared. It was dark and we were two unfamiliar young men to her. Soon the woman realised she was in good hands. She was the same age as my mother and I tried to cherish her as a family member. In gratitude, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. I will never forget that! I hope every Red Crosser experiences such a moment of gratitude. Society notices what you do and appreciates it.” 

Harm, do you also expect to engage during the aid effort? 

“Yes, I definitely want to. I have now completed the online first aid course and the physical first aid course is scheduled soon. I think it is good if I am active in the aid effort myself. Making visits and participating in deployments helps to understand what is going on. In September, I was at the Helpdesk in Amsterdam. I conducted an intake interview and I really did not find that easy. At a certain point, you just do not know what to ask. That kind of experience teaches me a lot.” 

Sometimes Red Crossers experience a gap between the association office and the country. Are you going to address this?  

“This, of course, has to be resolved. With 21 districts, it is complex. As far as I am concerned, I am still figuring out how the lines run. We have to make sure that the local divisions and the association office work together even better. The best thing would be if you can keep the local strength alongside the strength of the big national organisation. If you increase qualities on both sides and reduce complexity, we can make even bigger strides. Ultimately, of course, in the Netherlands it starts and ends with volunteers. We need to understand their strength well.”  

David, if you can give me one tip, what would it be? 

“The business culture. I once heard someone say that people who switch from the business world to an aid organisation can preserve the same business culture. But that is not the case. In business, it is all about processes and everything is tightly regulated, here it is different. It takes time to understand the culture of the Red Cross.” 

Harm, what are your ambitions for the Red Cross? 

“Marieke provided fantastic leadership over the past five years during a particularly challenging time full of crises. My ambition is to build on the organisation she has worked so hard on, together with you. Taking the organisation to an even higher level. Our assistance has an impact on society. I want to increase this impact by reaching many more people in need. I also think it is important that we sharpen our priorities even more. What do we do and what do we not do. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, I think it is important to resolve the gap between the association office and the districts. We are one organisation. Together we are one Red Cross.”