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Read residents' stories here. Amaryllis helped them with tips, information or support.

20240618 Sewing group Stiens Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 001

"If you don't talk the problem just continues"

It is 2023 when 24-year-old Fatma contacts Amaryllis. She has not been paying rent for several months. Through Amaryllis, she gets in touch with social worker Tina. After a while, Fatma becomes pregnant and moves in with her then-boyfriend. "When I started living together, I was very happy with the...

20241021 Neighbourhood band Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 011

Music for all

On Monday mornings, the community band meets to practice music. Fatma is the group's singer. She discovered the neighbourhood band through an online call. She saw that it was part of the project "Art in the Neighbourhood," and it immediately appealed to her. "I was excited to take part in...

20241114 Interview Dennis Beetsterzwaag Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 005

From homelessness to home ownership

A few years ago, Dennis' life consisted of a vagrant existence. He lived from day to day and went jail in, jail out. "At that time, I thought it was all for the best, I didn't care that much. From home I didn't get a good example either," Dennis says. When Dennis came out of detention...

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More than a cup of coffee

People used to never ask me how I was doing, says Martine Vonk of Amaryllis. That is why Martine makes an extra effort at the informal care café in Grou to be able to ask informal caregivers that very question: how are you doing? Martine is a social worker in Amaryllis' Social Village Team South. She is also...

20250111 Kian Young Carer Amaryllis Iris Bruinenberg 006

Kian's life as a young carer

Kian (18) studies, works and is also a carer. Two years ago, his mother became ill and bedridden, after which she could no longer function independently. His father takes care of his mother and the children. Kian helps with the dog, shopping, making food and doing fun things with his two siblings. "My parents want us...

Interview Spulwike Photo

Volunteer reciprocity

On the sports field on the outskirts of Easterein, a few hundred children sit spellbound watching a group of volunteers opening the second day of the Spulwike in disguise. The children yell the yell in chorus before jumping up and following the volunteers into the village in small groups. It's a cosy affair, that...

Interview Grutter Shop Photo

Take volunteers seriously

Outside the Grutterswinkel in Leeuwarden, the beautiful wooden facade with wavy single-pane glass takes you back in time. Inside, hops, raspberry sweets, cinnamon sticks, foam blocks and all sorts of other old Dutch sweets colour the shelves of the over 100-year-old Grutterswinkel in Leeuwarden. The sweets from the glass jars are weighed on the enamel scales. Here, they are...

20230524 2023 05 24 Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 021

"I consider myself too young to do nothing"

In het Odensehuis, een ontmoetingsplaats voor mensen met een vorm van dementie of NAH (niet aangeboren hersenletsel) ontmoeten we Eize. Hij is een fitte ex-militair met vroegpensioen die niet van stilzitten houdt. Eize is beweegcoach bij Ontmoeten en Meedoen. “Dan gaan een heleboel dingen stil staan. Bijvoorbeeld bij het Odensehuis: hoeveel vrijwilligers hier mensen begeleiden….

20230420 20230420 Collective Work Boxing Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 007

Boxing as medicine

"You tell me when you can't do it any more, don't you?" echoes through the boxing room at the top of the Sportcity on Cambuurplein. A very different tone from what you expect during a boxing training session. This is where a group of around 10 people train every week. Not with regular trainers, but social workers from Amaryllis. "The experience of trainers Hendrik,...

202506 Ralph Boxing (Use only on Story)

"At Amaryllis I found a place where I can be myself"

Ralph came to a care agency a few years ago. He had been through a lot: psychosis, suicidal thoughts, a form of PTSD, an anxiety disorder and neurodivergence, meaning he is different from what society sees as 'normal'. At Amaryllis' 'conscious movement' group, he finds peace. "In that bad period, I closed myself...

20250512 Quincy Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 002

From aid taker to aid provider

Quincy is diagnosed with PDD-NOS (a form of autism) and ADHD at a young age. He moves from education to education and is expelled from various schools. He ends up in various assistance programmes, including at Amaryllis. Recently, he has been at a tipping point in his life, going from help taker to help provider. "I didn't know...

20250605 Jan Pasveer Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 002

"Thanks to ggz and Amaryllis, I am not a bum"

When Letty enters Jan's house, she is startled. The walls and floor are bare concrete. In the living room there is only a sofa, TV and lots of empty beer cans. There is mould everywhere. Jan no longer gets off the sofa. Indeed, he can't get off. That's how bad things are for him....

20250506 Nathalia Kiraly Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 001

"My life is so much better now"

About 15 years ago, Nathalia came to the Netherlands from Hungary. She became a victim of human trafficking and ended up forced into prostitution here. After years of abuse, the police managed to get her out. She ended up in a shelter in Leeuwarden. After a while, it was time to stand on her own two feet again. She...

20250228 Boxing Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 033

"You learn to set your boundaries"

Thijs joined Conscious Exercise for a few months. An Amaryllis group where residents box with each other. The aim of these training sessions: to learn and dare to set limits and to be mentally and physically healthier. "I was on long-term sick leave from work and heard from a friend that this existed. I decided to join...

20250414 Embrace Bilgaard Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 001

Here everyone is equal

In several neighbourhoods, Amaryllis, Embrace Netherlands and neighbourhood associations are joining forces to set up music groups. Under the name Slagkracht, local residents make music together, with the main aim of meeting each other and strengthening neighbourhood cohesion. In Bilgaard, volunteer Bianca leads one of these groups, which consists mainly of young people. "Many of these...

20240627 Money course Taeke Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 001

"This course is really for everyone"

Taeke attended the Coping with Money course at amaryllis this spring. A free course for anyone who wants more overview of their money. From handy saving tips to creating an annual plan. All kinds of people take part in the course. "Some just moved out on their own and wanted to know what all that entails on the...

20240618 Sewing group Stiens Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 001

"It's nice to pass something on"

At village hall the Nije Skalm in Stiens, a group meets every week to learn to sew. Under the guidance of five volunteers, they learn how a sewing machine works and how to make or repair simple things. Martje was the first volunteer to start the group. "I saw a call from Amaryllis in the...

20240430 Leovardia Kor Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 003

"Meeting and Participating Leovardia was my salvation"

"Two years ago, I lost my wife," says Kor. "We were together for 70 years. That made me very lonely. Through Herke, whom I still know from my time at Cambuur, I ended up here. That was my salvation. It's always nice here. There is good guidance from Amaryllis and the students from Firda...

20240430 Leovardia Roelien Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 005

"Everyone is accepted as they are"

"I really wanted to do something with young people," says Roelien. "In Wilaardahof, where I live, everyone is twenty years older than me. Here, more people of my age come here. What I like here is that everyone is accepted as they are." Meet and Participate Leovardia is every Tuesday afternoon in the canteen of SL Leovardia. Staff...

20240430 Leovardia Lolkje Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 004

Social life through Meeting and Participation Leovardia

"I volunteered with the Sunflower. From that position, I regularly sent people to Leovardia," says Lolkje "When I suffered a concussion myself, I couldn't cope with anything anymore. I sat at home for more than a year and wanted to be among people again. That's why I decided to go here myself. That was a good...

20240430 Story of experience M. Hadic Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 008

"Marrit and Tineke are my family"

Muhamed enjoyed living on Bisschopstraat in Leeuwarden for thirty years. When his wife died, he was left alone. Fearing a high gas bill, he heated his house with electric heaters. He did not ventilate. As a result, mould grew throughout the house. The home care agency says he did contact the...

20240429 Experience story Jaap Amaryllis Mark Grupstra 012

"I feel responsible for my neighbourhood"

Jaap makes his neighbourhood more beautiful by sowing flowers everywhere. What started with a few bulbs along his bike ride grew into a passion for a greener city. He shows: a nicer neighbourhood just starts with yourself.

20240301 Dealing With Money Amaryll

'Step out of your comfort zone and break that circle'

Judith took the Coping with Money course last year. After three years in debt restructuring, she regained full responsibility for her income and expenses. "I had little overview of my administration. Thanks to this course, I have regained an overview of what comes in and what goes out." The course is for anyone who needs better...

Amaryllis 220240301 Experience Story Around (created D

Need help? Drop by, we're happy to help

Asking for help can be difficult. Ineke knocked on Amaryllis' door with a desire to get out and about more, and received support in finding suitable activities and companionship. Her story shows that even a small request for help can make a big difference in someone's daily life.

From participant to organiser

It has been almost a year since Harm-Jan came to Amaryllis. He hardly left the door, until social worker Hendrik convinced him to box at Conscious Exercise. Later, Harm-Jan also joined creative cafes and recently he even got a job. Outside activities of Amaryllis, he talked to people who...

Eveline and Alef in front of Amaryllis' office

Caring for someone is not carefree

One in four young people under 24 is a carer. They care for or worry about someone close to them. For example, their father, mother or brother. Many young people also unintentionally receive (too) little attention from their parents because someone else in the family requires a lot of care due to an illness, disorder or condition. "Then...

Carer Esmeralda

Unnoticed aid worker

Esmeralda is a social worker and carer. Caring for another is a thread that runs through her entire life. Her informal care story starts at a young age. When she was 10 years old, her father died. After this, she took on the care of her depressed mother. This early responsibility unwittingly shaped Esmeralda into a caregiver....

Caregiver Sieta

"I know the concerns of a carer"

Sieta helps carers and is a carer herself. A very convenient combination. Read her story.

Gerben and Pieter in the living room

Don't be ashamed

It's 2019. Gerben has everything. His own business in construction and a rented house he gets to buy over from the owner. Then things go wrong. "I was standing in the garden and the neighbour asked what I was doing," Gerben explains. "I didn't remember that." Gerben suffers burnout. "I...

Ms Dechesne 4092

"Thanks to Durk, I am back where I belong"

Durk volunteers at Bezoek&Co and walks around Leeuwarden with Belli every week. Thanks to Amaryllis, this came his way.

Steffen during games afternoon

Games for everyone

Every Friday afternoon, Steffen voluntarily organises a games afternoon in Stiens.