What hit you this year? This hit us....
Usually, encounters while volunteering are life-changing. Coming out of your bubble gives you different insights, connection and so much more. This is what touched us this past year. Recognizable? We are curious to hear about your experience!
What hit Esther in 2021?
"Despite all the lockdown restrictions, we continue to innovate to enable the connection between company & society, between employees and those who are struggling. I felt the positive vibe again during the first online pilot I facilitated of the new online meeting 'Meet & Match' for our founder Eindhoven Airport. Here we pitch a number of social questions and wishes in 45 minutes. After the enthusiasm during the meeting, employees signed up en masse to volunteer and do good. "
What hit Judith in 2021?
"Community Coaching is a 9-month process where a person from the business community works together as a coach on an issue of a community organization. Two meetings were to take place online but fortunately the participating coaches from businesses and non-profits got to see each other live for the first time in September 2021. The energy, inspiration, connection and enthusiasm there was during this final meeting really touched me.
Also, feedback from participants. For example, one foundation wanted to spar with a fresh outside perspective on marketing. The coach of this foundation experienced that his world outside his work is very beautiful. He loved thinking about his future in the emotional time of corona and dreaming of a better way to do his own work.
This is what I do it for. The connection of two worlds that don't easily meet in everyday life."
What hit Julia in 2021?
"Last year we conducted research on the quality of cooperation with community partners. Together we want to make more impact, which is precisely why it is so important to keep improving the quality of cooperation. We listen to the needs of our social partners and the great ideas and insights that have come out of this. This is precisely how we can respond to the wishes and needs at this time and be the bridge builder between the companies and the social field. I really find that very valuable."
What hit Maaike in 2021?
"The beautiful wishes of the residents of Vitalis, October in Care and Archipel. On February 14, we placed wishing trees at 23 residential care centers locations. Residents (mostly elderly) were allowed to hang a wish in it. The wishes touched me because they were so special and 'small'; from being able to buy wool to knit again at Wibra, a nature puzzle of 2,000 pieces to a picking garden at Vitalis Peppelrode to look at. All these 1,000 (!) wishes we wanted to fulfill last year with corporate volunteers from our involved companies, and we succeeded with a number of wishes. This provided wonderful moments for residents but also for the company volunteers. The connection is so beautiful to see and the vitamin A of Attention is central to this. But there are still plenty of wishes to fulfill, when that is allowed again we will get right back to work! I myself was also in the fortunate position of being able to fulfill a number of wishes. If I may mention the most beautiful one, it is the wish of Mrs. Aarts ... she wanted so badly to store again in the City Center in Veldhoven. When I picked her up at Vitalis 't Lint she was already all set and the whole house knew what she was going to do. Everyone wished her lots of fun, she was really looking forward to this afternoon! We shopped, gabbed and walked together. Even a beautiful red sweater scored the hip Mrs. Aarts. A cup of coffee and cake was also a must. When we said goodbye, she told me that this had been one of her most enjoyable days. And quite honestly... for me too, I still think back on it regularly and with a huge smile."
What hit Marbritta in 2021?
"Give a coat and warm a heart " is a city-wide collaboration every autumn in which Brainport companies collect pre-loved coats for 9 social organizations (such as De Kledingbank) in Eindhoven. Together with people who need a warm coat and the companies, we sort and distribute the coats. Doing this together is magical and, in addition to satisfaction, provides connection. During the sorting there is a lot of laughter ('hey, someone also donated this broken giant bra!') but we share (life) stories that leave a deep impression and a different perspective on our fellow man. Why does someone flee? What makes someone homeless? And so an encounter can be life-changing. It is for me personally. Stories that I pass on because it starts with mutual understanding."
What hit Sandra in 2021?
"We did the Pro Bono Communications Day 2021 entirely online. This is never easy, but even less so to go through a creative process with an unknown (corporate) team of volunteers in a very short time. It touched me that once again so many marcom specialists signed up and participated. The drive and energy with which the teams went to work for the "good causes" was phenomenal and the results were concrete and to the point. One of the great examples is the campaign for Combination Youth Care to get more people interested in foster parenting. This campaign was launched one-on-one in December. I love that skills-based volunteering brings so much satisfaction and meaning, for both the (corporate) volunteer and the community organization. That gives me the drive to organize and facilitate Pro Bono Communications every year."