Marike & Henriëtte share: "Reciprocity!"

Marike is Henriëtte's buddy, and they meet every other Tuesday morning. During our conversation, Henriëtte mentions that she finds it nerve-wracking and gets a stomachache as a result. Marike quickly puts Henriëtte at ease. It's beautiful to see how well these two have synchronized with each other.

Four years ago, Marike started as Henriëtte's buddy at Riwis. Because Henriëtte suffers from anxiety, it took a while for them to get comfortable with each other. Henriëtte says, "I often canceled because I got a stomachache when we had appointments." Marike adds, "I felt sorry for her, and I wondered if her anxiety was because of me. I discussed this with Henriëtte and her support team and learned that this is just part of who she is. I persevered and continued to visit every other Tuesday. After our meetings, I always get a message saying it was nice that I came." Henriëtte shares, "Marike reassures me and helps me breathe in and out calmly." Marike explains, "At first, the contact seemed one-sided, but now there is reciprocity. Recently, I hurt my foot, and a few days later, Henriëtte showed up at my door with a bouquet of flowers. I found that so thoughtful!"

Marike and Henriëtte go for walks, play games together, drink tea at Henriëtte's home, and chat a lot. Marike notes, "Together, we push our boundaries by trying out new games and gradually extending our walks. Henriëtte doesn't always feel like walking, but after some persuasion, she always joins me." Henriëtte enthusiastically shares, "Marike is so spontaneous and fun!" Marike adds, "We communicate very well and are on the same wavelength." We see a warm bond between Marike and Henriëtte. Marike explains why being a buddy is so rewarding: "When you see what you get in return, the gratitude expressed. You don't do it for yourself but for the other person, and that gives me a fulfilled feeling that is priceless." Henriëtte jokes, "I pay in bracelets and necklaces that I make for her."

Laura, the volunteer coordinator at Riwis, is enthusiastic about the connection, trust, and bond she sees between the two: "It's wonderful to see Marike put Henriëtte at ease. I saw Henriëtte's anxiety and how Marike calms her. A volunteer like Marike is so valuable in this regard. A buddy is an equal to a client; daily caregivers have a different role. They come with a plan and set goals that the client feels pressured by. With a buddy, there is an equal relationship."

Would you like to become a buddy at Riwis, just like Marike? Laura would love to meet you to see which target group within the organization suits you best. If Laura finds a suitable match, she will schedule an introduction with the volunteer, client, and the support team to create a match.

Check out the vacancies at Riwis below.