Martina moves forward at meeting place De Graanhof

Martina Overbeeke has been living in Apeldoorn for 8 years. She enjoys connecting with people and being creative. In Apeldoorn, she started studying theology, but unfortunately, she had to put it on hold. Now, Martina is gradually picking up the pieces and is in the process of reintegration. “Through my reintegration program, I got in touch with Apeldoorn Pakt Aan. I had a discussion about my options and which vacancies would suit me. I also kept an eye on the website myself. I checked out three different organizations that seemed interesting to me. There wasn’t a match with one of them. The second organization attracted me, but at that time, there was no suitable task for me. The third option was the meeting place De Graanhof. Initially, this vacancy didn’t catch my attention, but ultimately, I found my place there, and the work suits what I enjoy and do well!"

Structure and Rhythm

Martina is now regularly at De Graanhof and does so with great pleasure. “I’m glad I had the opportunity to try different things and have conversations with multiple organizations to make a good choice. I started with the World Kitchen on Fridays. Here, we cook a meal together with people from the AZC (Asylum Seekers Center) for the neighborhood. I’m mainly there for odd jobs, setting and clearing tables, serving food, washing dishes, and during the meal, there’s an opportunity to interact with the visitors. This was a great first step for me to gain more structure and rhythm in my life, and it has helped me take even more steps within De Graanhof. I’m grateful for the opportunities available! Now, I’m also a hostess during the coffee morning on Tuesdays and a cooking volunteer on Thursdays. With these steps, I aim to grow into a role that suits me.”

Different Roles

For Martina, there are several reasons to do volunteer work. “Initially, I came to Apeldoorn Pakt Aan because I wanted to get back to work and rebuild rhythm and structure. This has certainly succeeded, and I’m gradually building it up here. Additionally, I find it important to look out for others, broaden my horizons, and take on new challenges. I really enjoy helping to create a nice and cozy meal on Thursdays and Fridays. It provides a fun activity for the participants and creates a connection between volunteers and participants. As a hostess during the coffee mornings, I have different tasks and appreciate having more time for one-on-one conversations and helping or informing people with their questions. In short, with the different roles I have at De Graanhof, it’s never boring, and each day is a surprise.”

Temporary?

Martina now manages to combine her volunteer work well with her daily life. “I currently spend about fifteen hours a week on my tasks at De Graanhof. This is manageable for me now, as I’m still building up to a paid job. It’s hard to say how it will go alongside a paid job. I won’t be doing as many volunteer hours, but I’m certainly open to seeing what I can still do. Maybe a small task at De Graanhof or something extra within the church. I’ve experienced that the time I spend on volunteer work has definitely paid off. Not in money, but it has broadened my horizon, I hear beautiful stories, and I’ve been able to mean something to others, which is very valuable to me. I often go home richer than I arrived!”

Formative

“The work at De Graanhof has brought me a lot. I’ve discovered that something in the welfare sector suits me well, and I also enjoy doing organizational work (in the background). The conversations with visitors and fellow volunteers are enriching. I love hearing stories from people’s lives and often learn a lot from different perspectives on various themes.

Finally, I find it wonderful to see how the place is supported by the volunteers. The work we do there is truly a team effort, and everyone has their valuable contribution. This creates mutual connection and appreciation. The work we do at De Graanhof matters, to me and others, and that makes me feel grateful and amazed!”

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