Peter's story
Pieter, a very helpful 57-year-old man from Roosendaal, unfortunately ended up without a job after 30 years and fell into a big hole. With his seas of time he decided to do something useful and through a buddy project he found a very nice match with an 88-year-old gentleman who was also looking for some company. This is his story:
After 30 years I found myself without a job and with a huge amount of time on my hands that I didn't know how to handle. I had always been a lot of people. I always had colleagues around me and all day long customer contact or contact with suppliers. And then suddenly everything just crashes.
As the months went on, I wanted to do something with that free time and I was looking for human contact. I went snooping around and came across NLvoorelkaar. Here I found a request for help that appealed to me about a buddy project and so after a while I ended up on the couch with an 88-year-old gentleman together with a coordinator for an introduction. Let's see if there was a click. After the introduction, we agreed that I would come by once every two weeks.
I liked putting a smile on his face
I went to visit for the first time a week later, we had coffee together and I listened to his story. He told me that he had a small network and that his son lived far away. I enjoyed listening to him, because that's what you're there for as a volunteer, you're there for the other person. But you can also tell your story yourself. And so it became a two-way street and a very nice bond was formed. We made once a fortnight, once a week. And sometimes I even went there twice a week. Sometimes I brought some sweets, or some flowers, because that's what he liked. I enjoyed putting a smile on his face. While it meant nothing to me, he absolutely loved it. I sometimes thought when I left: 'Would that man have to wait another two weeks for someone to come?'
I noticed from him that he really liked it when I came. He could say anything to me and vice versa. What I really liked was when he talked about the old days. About the war and about his years that he worked. He sometimes told some things twice, but oh well, I took that for granted.
He has now been admitted to a home, but my visits to him continue. Fortunately, the rules have been relaxed again after the strict Corona measures and I can also visit him there.
Recently I got a second buddy. I will also try to build such a nice bond with him. I can recommend it to anyone who has time and is sociable. You must like to hear stories and it is useful if you can tell something yourself. With these two people it is not possible to go outside. But normally you don't have to stay inside, you can also go shopping or go for a walk or something.
He sometimes told some things twice, but oh well, I took that for granted
Els overcomes loneliness
Els overcomes loneliness Els, a strong 47-year-old woman from Haarlemmermeer, had a rough week. The social worker was on vacation and she was in the middle of a move. Yet she thought it was so important that she made time to share her story with us. She talks about how she has tackled it to stop feeling lonely and advises everyone to do the same. This is her story: I had been suffering from depression for a while. But in the summer of 2017, this started to change. This completely turned into exaggerated cheerfulness and I could take on the whole world at that moment. I could do everything from hiking, rafting, racing, canoeing and much more. My two children, ages 14 and 16, loved it. I went like a rocket! And then out of nowhere the mood swings started. One minute I was very depressed and the next very happy. The psychologist sent me to a bipolar clinic, where it was with great pain in my heart that I had to hear and accept that I was bipolar. After this I had a crisis service for a while, followed by an admission of 2.5 months in a clinic in the area. After this I was stable for a while but unfortunately I was still in recording a few times. I can now proudly say that I am finally stable. It was a very tough time and because of this I also lost my job as a teacher of Computer Science at the VWO. I am now also divorced, my children live with my ex and I have lost many friends. Because of my bipolar disorder I have lost a large part of my network. My illness has really opened my eyes. It can happen to anyone and a mental illness is perhaps the most difficult thing to overcome. But I was determined that I would. I turn it around and I'm going to use volunteering to pull myself out of my loneliness That's why I've been busy rebuilding everything over the past few months. I've bought a new apartment that I'm moving into next week and I've been busy on Zorgzaam010 looking for volunteer work that will help me get back to people. I saw two options: either I will help myself or I will ask for help. I wanted to stay positive and chose to offer my help. I thought, 'That's how I get out of my loneliness. I turn it around and I'm going to use volunteer work to pull myself out of my loneliness." I am slowly starting to find my way. Recently I have been active as a volunteer in elderly care, I build websites for non-profit organizations such as an organization against child marriages in Uganda, I give ICT lessons to seniors and I am a language aid for new Dutch people. In this way I have a meaningful use of my time and I get to know new people. I would recommend it to everyone! Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward
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