The largest emergency shelter of the Netherlands closes on May 2nd. Radboud University was closely involved with the Heumensoord camp. Who are the volunteers that helped the asylum seekers with all sorts of things? Today: master’s student of Social and Cultural Sciences Iris Wierstra (22).

What do you help with?

‘I work in the social room in the Sakrementskerk Brakkenstein church. We listen to the refugees’ stories and try to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. When the initiative began, a call for help was posted in Nijmegen churches and mosques. So many volunteers signed up, that we could only be placed officially once every two weeks, instead of one morning every week as originally intended.’

Do you gain anything from it?
‘Friendship. I became close friends with a girl that came to the social room a lot, just like me. I also talk to the refugees outside of the church, for example via WhatsApp. One time, I gave a boy a tour of the university. Another refugee wanted to play tennis, so I put him in touch with a friend of mine who plays tennis too.’

What problems did you encounter?
‘The work can be quite hard from time to time: you hear some very shocking stories. It also happens that someone starts crying because of a child or other family members that are still somewhere else. Of course, they hope that the others can come here as soon as possible.’

Has your idea of ‘the refugee’ changed?
‘Refugees who have gone through the unthinkable come to Nijmegen! I recently heard someone say: “This stream of refugees will be in the history books.” If someone asks you in a few years’ time what you have done, you don’t want to say you haven’t done anything. Look, refugees are people too – they are our future neighbors.’ / Nicole Nibbering