The largest emergency shelter of the Netherlands closes on May 2nd. Radboud University was involved closely with the Heumensoord camp. Who are the volunteers that helped the asylum seekers with all sorts of things? Today: Orthopedagogical Sciences teacher Marjolein Gompel.

What do you help with at Heumensoord?

‘I helped with the handiwork days at Heumensoord a couple of times. For that, I collected wool at my job. Lots of Radboud coworkers donated their balls of wool. I also resumed my former job as a hairdresser for a RePowerParty for the women in the shelter: I gave the ladies a new haircut and did their make-up. Furthermore, I brought all kinds of stuff – a suitcase and sports shoes, for example – and I taught language lessons. Unfortunately, my group fell apart and only one student remained. He became a friend of mine. I taught him the language, but he also visits me at home. He plays the piano, we walk the dog and he joins us for dinner.’

What problems did you encounter?
‘The handiwork days, which were organized three times a week, could be difficult sometimes. It was a bit chaotic, especially because a lot of women do not speak Dutch or English. But we knitted many hats and scarves and with that, we killed two birds with one stone: the women had something fun to do and we made something to protect them from the cold.’

Has your idea of ‘the refugee’ changed?
‘No. Perhaps I didn’t really have a picture in my mind: refugees speak a different language and have experienced traumatizing events – but they are still people. Precisely the negative picture that is painted of them in the media, is a reason to do something for them.’ / Nicole Nibbering