A year ago, Roderick Vernooij had taken some time off from his job as an IT consultant to redesign a house for his mother after his father had passed away.
“It was good for her to make a new start,” he says.
His father had been really into DIY. “When something was broken he took it apart to see if he could make it work again. I guess that’s why I’ve always liked to figure out how stuff works and be creative in learning how to fix it myself.”
As he was working on the house, Roderick realized he wanted to try something new that would give him structure but also allow him to help others. That’s when he found People for People.
Roderick is now the organization’s Operations Manager overseeing the logistics for donations, organizing drop-offs and pick-ups, and preparing People for People’s Rolling Aid Events for unaccompanied minors at asylum shelters across the Netherlands.
“The best part is making a difference for young people who have just lost their faith in life and other people as well. Sometimes the kids are shy at first, then during the day you listen to their stories, you prepare food together, and then they start to open up. By the end of the day they’re laughing, smiling, and high-fiving you. That’s really an amazing moment.”
Thinking about his mother’s new house, he says, “It’s always good to have a place where you feel safe. That’s what we do for the kids as well. The COA gives them a place and we give them the attention they need as a human and especially as a kid. We also give them a feeling of home by serving familiar meals from their home country.”
After the devastating earthquake hit Morocco last year, Roderick was part of the People for People team that traveled to remote villages to bring relief supplies.
“It had a great impact on me. Some of these people lost everything but they’re still so hospitable, friendly, warm and willing to help others. Their resilience is so impressive.”
Unfortunately, months later, many of these people are still living in temporary tent structures.
Roderick will now be leading People for People’s newest project to provide sustainable, longer-term emergency shelters for people in crisis situations, thanks to our partnership with BetterShelter. Roderick will be training teams to build these structures using sustainable materials in a matter of hours. This way, when a crisis hits, he can use his handy talents to ensure more people have a place where they feel safe. The team will return to Morocco for its first mission in October.
Roderick shared one last piece of advice: “I think a lot of people would like to do something for other people, but what’s holding them back is not knowing what they can do. But if you want to help, just ask people how you can help them.”
Want to know how your organization can help? Contact us.
