Rebellious teenager with volunteer work at heart

The fact that twenty-three-year-old May would start volunteering at the StijldansKlup in Apeldoorn is purely coincidental. As a rebellious teenager, with pink hair, ripped jeans, and heavy metal as her favorite music genre, she determined her own path in life. She left her parental home when she was eighteen and tried her luck with various studies. She did several internships, but when she got in touch with the Klup in Apeldoorn through her sister, it was immediately clear to May: that’s where she wanted to do her next internship.

She was drawn to the commitment of the volunteers, the pleasant atmosphere, and the camaraderie: “Much better than other places where I was used as cheap labor.” Because her initially chosen studies did not give her what she was looking for, she ultimately chose direct contact with elderly people. For two years now, she has found joy in her work in elderly care, assisting people with dementia. “Fantastic work, in which I don’t pursue an ambitious future, but I do find my passion.”

The studies are now completed and the internships are over, but the Klup has remained. She is a volunteer in a flex pool there, which makes it easy for her to fit the work at the StijldansKlup into her busy life. There is laughter when her dance skills are mentioned: “No dance skills, but definitely a sense of rhythm. Enjoy moving and having fun with the participants and other volunteers. Chatting, drinking coffee or tea, and then trying out different styles. The first participants are eager half an hour before we start. Amazing, but not all of them are aiming for a gold star,” May also downplays her own competencies. “Young people of my generation want to do something good; to make a difference. However, they don’t always know where to start. That is complicated, but this volunteer work is such a start for me.”

May still lives on her own and has a lovely boyfriend. Her pink hair has since returned to its natural color. Even her jeans are without holes, and only an Iron Maiden pajama top betrays her metal past. The values she learned at home, which she temporarily set aside during her rebellious phase, she has embraced again. She happily continues with her life and even has a follow-up study planned for the upcoming fall. “I don’t aim to pursue a master’s degree, but I do want to make progress in my work with the elderly. The volunteer job at the Klup is close to my heart because I don’t think I could work with this group professionally. But at the Klup, nothing is mandatory, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it’s always a good time. That makes this volunteer work great.”