Volunteer Charmaine

Volunteer Charmaine Hi, I am Charmaine 31 years old and of Chinese descent. When I was 22 I moved to the Netherlands for my studies. After my studies I found a job as an accountant in Rotterdam. She had worked there for several years. Last year I decided to take a break. I wanted to take the time to think quietly and orientate myself on what I really wanted to do. During this period, I didn't want to sit still and started looking for volunteer work. As a volunteer at Zorgzaam010 I wanted to get to know nice people and I also wanted to learn more about Dutch culture. Another plus is that I can work on my Dutch language proficiency. At home I speak Cantonese with my husband and Dutch is not widely spoken. I have also done volunteer work in China At Buurtwerk, the organization where I recently started volunteering, I only speak Dutch. People I help there indirectly help me back. In addition, I meet weekly with a language buddy who teaches me Dutch and she is also a volunteer. The clients come from the neighborhood and everyone can use this agency. I often see elderly people passing by. They have a range of diverse issues, but computer-related questions are the most common. In addition to the elderly, I also see young people who have experienced unpleasant events and who are in debt. With my financial knowledge I try to advise them as well as possible. I also advise new migrants on how best to look for work. Volunteering is not new to me, I also volunteered in China. There I helped children with their homework. I find volunteering very useful and fun. The atmosphere is very pleasant and everyone is nice to each other. That makes me feel satisfied. Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward

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