FEELING GOOD
January 2017 is the perfect time to refocus priorities and add meaning to our daily lives for the year to come. I always feel nothing can beat the eloquent energy of a new start of the year when we can add some activities that do not emphasize ourselves, especially by adding activities that add value to the environment and society around us.
There are many causes and things we can do to make the world a better place. For example, until January 30th, 2017, you can vote for your favourite foundation on the Help Nederland Vooruit campaign in your region to make an impact! The initiative is an excellent way to support a cause that matters.
ING NEDERLAND FONDS
The charity fund of the ING bank supports local initiatives and national efforts by providing financial resources, donations, knowledge and time.
Yearly, the ING Bank Netherlands, renowned for its focus on sustainability, has the ING Nederland fonds to empower smaller and local initiatives. The fund selected 260 local foundations from over 1,000 entries. Each of these 260 foundations will receive a donation, but the amount of money depends on the votes they receive.
Five foundations have been selected to receive a donation between €1,000 and €5,000 in each of the 52 regions.
So vote from January 9th to January 30th, 2017, for your favourite foundation through the Help Nederland Vooruit campaign in your region to make an impact! The initiative is a great way to get involved with supporting a cause that matters.
STAY LOCAL
There are undoubtedly many big and well-known charity foundations across the country. However, I have always felt that local charitable initiatives are real drivers of change and meaningful impact.
In my local community, I can still join many activities as a volunteer. I can choose to be a language coach for a group of immigrants who just came to the Netherlands several months ago. This group of people entered the country with zero knowledge of the Dutch language. As a foreigner, I know how important it is to have a reasonable knowledge of the Dutch language. Another activity I can choose to get involved in is a day out for a walk with the residents of a nursing home. One day in the year, one evening per month or one hour per week may dramatically change the life of someone in need. This is an experience which I found to be utterly rewarding and relevant. And thus, every deed counts. As the Dutch say: “Help Nederland Vooruit.”
As I said, try to be involved in your local community and start the year strong. If you care about the well-being of others, don’t forget to be part of this noble initiative by casting your vote for a charity, initiative, or cause of your choice here: Help Nederland Vooruit—Vote Now!
PERSONAL INVOLVEMENTS
To recognize my personal involvement, I would like to provide a few ways I contribute to the community. Over several months, I registered myself as a stem cell donor with Matchis/ Europdonor (a Dutch Foundation), which allows me to help patients with leukaemia and other severe blood disorders receive stem cell transplantation. As you never know, the person needing the most help might live just a few blocks away. Stem cells are vital for patients who suffer from Cancer, specifically leukaemia, to survive.
Donating clothing
I have a huge pile of clothes that I have not worn for a long time. Every now and then, I select clothes and shoes and drop them in the clothing donation container or bring them to the local homeless shelters to help people in need. And believe me, some people can really value these gestures.
Local dog shelter
As a dog owner, it is a kind of automatic link to be involved and be a friend of the local dog shelter. Donating unused toys, dog care products, dog foods, and leftover medicines and supplements has become routine. This dog shelter is also the place where my dog Max can stay when I am out of the country for travelling or business.
My focus and planning for 2017 are to get more information about how to be more involved in the LGBT community and to participate in organizing various workshops and activities in my neighbourhood.
What will be your social involvement focus this year? You can start by voting here.
Comments