Loneliness is not a fringe issue in our city. An older person who goes days without speaking to anyone, a newcomer whose family lives far away, a sick neighbour who can no longer manage the shopping — they all live beside us. For us, connecting is not a project. It is the core of what we do.
What we do
- Weekly neighbourhood gatherings where young and old meet — coffee, food, conversation
- One-to-one visits to people who are stuck at home through illness, age or circumstance
- Practical help: groceries, a ride to the hospital, a form that needs filling in
- Emotional support from volunteers who listen — without judgement, without agenda
Who we work with
For older people whose networks have shrunk. For young people growing up without a grandparent nearby. For people on low incomes who barely make ends meet. For the sick, for newcomers, for anyone who would rather not face it alone for a while.
Our approach
We work in the neighbourhood, with the neighbourhood. Our volunteers are matched carefully on the basis of fit — language, daily rhythm, personality. We cooperate with Rotterdam-based welfare organisations, with GP practices that refer to us, and with schools that want to bring generations together. We bring people together without turning them into a project.
Examples
For illustration:
- A reading group in Delfshaven where a retired teacher works through books each week with children from the area
- A phone circle where four older neighbours call each other briefly every morning to check in
- A newcomer who, as a volunteer, does the shopping for an older neighbour and practises his Dutch at the same time
Get involved
One hour a week can carry someone through theirs. Become a volunteer or contribute so we can keep making connections in the neighbourhoods that need them most.
“People become visible again the moment someone sees them — and keeps looking.”
