A Wholesome Saturday
On Saturday afternoon, the Regenboog Groep organized a heartwarming event where a group of volunteers came together to prepare pancakes. A warm and welcoming space in the West of Amsterdam, in an office catered towards providing comfort, several individuals experiencing homelessness were invited to feast on some delicious pancakes, carefully prepared by three volunteers. From the relaxed atmosphere in the living room to the cheerful vibes in the kitchen, the entire afternoon reflected a wholesome initiative by Serve the City to fill people’s stomachs and fulfill their hearts!
Strangers Turned Friends
Volunteering events are a great space to radiate positivity and for growth, while also providing an opportunity to meet expand your network. On this day, not only could the three volunteers spread their kindness, but they also had the chance to foster new special connections.
MAYA KAO:
Maya, originally from Taiwan, moved to Amsterdam for her masters. Alongside her background in the technology industry, she has also been a part of various nonprofit organizations. For her, the connections she has made throughout her experience are an important part of this journey. One of her key observations is the ease with which she is able to bond with the other volunteers. Maya also shares tips for others to maximize their experience, such as by staying open- minded and friendly. She acknowledges the need for a flexible lifestyle to be able to incorporate these opportunities into her schedule. Hence, her passion for serving others along with the close friendships that are created have convinced Maya to make volunteering a permanent part of her life.
RAVI:
Ravi, born and brought up in Amsterdam, also shares her enlightening experience at this event. As someone with a passion for cooking, this project was the perfect opportunity for her to begin her volunteer journey with Serve the City. A bit of Internet research led her right to the heart of organization, where she could hone her cooking skills to the fullest potential while also helping people in need. With a background in nursing at an addiction clinic, helping people is a huge part of her life. She describes her experience at the event with great enthusiasm, proving her first time to be a great success. She also reflects on how spending just a few hours of your day on such a wholesome activity can be so fulfilling.
AISHA:
As a project coordinator for this location, Aisha certainly plays an integral part in this whole process. She describes her journey with great passion and love for the role she gets to play and her ability to help those in need. She began her journey with Serve the City a year ago with the same event, serving pancakes.
When asked how people can work together to improve the city and the lives of the people residing in it, Aisha reinforces the idea of treating others with kindness and compassion rather than allowing preconceived notions to guide their attitudes. “They’re also people”, says Aisha as she states how most of them were once people with jobs and good lifestyles and misfortunes can occur to anyone. She also describes the other initiatives that are taken by the organization such as providing water bottles and other necessities. Her most cherished memory of this year long journey lays not in one specific event but in her day to day life wherein she can provide help and support to people through even the smallest acts of kindness.
A CHERISHED MEMORY:
A Saturday afternoon dedicated to serving the people in need resulted in a huge success!
The event had a valuable outcome as the combined efforts of the coordinators and volunteers led to a large number of pancakes being made and distributed. The experience certainly had a positive impact on everyone involved. Hence, together the organization and volunteers created a highly memorable afternoon!
