A volunteer is speaking

I was asked to write a blog about my work as a volunteer for the For a Change foundation. A short introduction: My name is Joanneke Zandee, 39 years of age and I live in Waarde. I work at Cotelli Podiatry & Shoes in ’s-Gravenpolder.

When the foundation was started, I became a volunteer. We had a meeting with a lot of people, making different plans. A somewhat smaller group of people is still volunteerer now. I love to do the volunteering work and we know why we do it: to be able to see the happy and grateful faces of the children and people of Kwanjana.

We live in a rich country, in contrast to the people from Malawi. It is so good to see that a school was established for the children of Kwanjana and the sponsoring program. My job as a volunteer is to help with the activities that are organised. For example, the action with the postcards, or the action for Mother's day.

It is so good to see how the people in Malawi to their work in dependence to God. I visited Malawi 3 times and I have seen and experienced how the people live there and how they are able to share from the little they have. Nothing is too much and the people are so friendly and hospitable. We, as Western people, can take a lot of lessons from that! I hope to return to Malawi soon. When I am in Malawi, I feel a certain ease and no stress. We live with our clock and they with their time...which is a real difference!

I wish Felix & Annemarie and Constantine & Marianne the blessings of the Lord and strength to do their work. And that we in the Netherlands do not forget the Malawian people and pray for them. And I hope to do the volunteering work for a long time!