I got involved with Serve the City four years ago, when we had the vision to establish a Serve the City in Kortrijk, in West Belgium, to find opportunities to serve in Flanders. I want to mention that I am asylum seeker and I have had the hardship in my life of being a refugee. I am thus quite familiar with the needs of many people Serve the City helps. Even though I wanted to gain experience serving others and reaching my potential it was at first hard for me to see people in pain and having difficulties. It made me sad to work with people, like the elderly, lonely, sick, homeless, and people with disabilities, who looked to me like they were fragile. But the more I delved into volunteering, the more I understood the needs and names of the people I encountered. I asked myself, “How can we – and how can I – respond to all these needs? Imagine people are sometimes stuck to solve their own problems; then what happens? What paths do those people – those families – take?” I had a breakthrough that changed my whole heart and attitude, and that was that many people doing small things together can make a big difference. I started to recognize my potential to serve in the areas I had heart for. For instance I am a musician, so we perform music for the elderly while feeding them and serving them coffee at Nativitas, and while providing good company for patients at the hospital. Making a community through music, sport, or any other small thing makes a big difference in our society, and gives me an “identity” that I can be the ambassador of hope for people even in hardship.
If you also would like to be involved in a project that is close to your heart visit our website for more information and get in touch with us www.servethecity.be.
