On Sunday, July 6, Link Veens from Driel was awarded the very first youth volunteer award from Overbetuwe. This special award is intended for young volunteers in Overbetuwe who make a special effort to help others. Link received the award from the hands of deputy mayor Evert Westerbeek and childrens mayor Benthe Riemsdijk.
Starting in 2025, the youth volunteer award will be presented annually as a token of appreciation for young people who voluntarily contribute in their neighborhood, at school, or in an association. Overbetuwe wants to show how important and valuable this commitment is.
A clear example for others
Link is 15 years old and active as a volunteer at the Fishing Association De Rietvoorn Elst. He guides young members, coaches members of the youth committee that provides fishing lessons, and supports youth members of the association during the competitions they participate in. He has completed a course for Fishing Coach with Sports Association Netherlands. Given his enthusiasm to involve other children in fishing, the fact that he takes this seriously by also following a course for it, and his commitment of an average of 5 hours a week, the jury sees him as a clear example for others at such a young age. He is eager to learn and always ready to help.
Unanimous choice of the jury
The municipal council decided on May 28, 2024, to structurally award a youth volunteer award to the youth volunteer of the year starting in 2025. Young people could be nominated through various channels. The jury, consisting of the alderman for Social Domain, childrens mayor 2024-2025 Bente Tijssen, former childrens mayor Kate Janssen, and youth workers from Forte Welfare, unanimously chose Link as the youth volunteer of the year 2025.
An idea from a former childrens mayor
The youth volunteer award originates from an idea by Kate Janssen from Oosterhout, childrens mayor in 2023-2024. More and more children and young people have a clear role model or special merits, such as contributing in emergency situations. During her application in 2023, she therefore proposed to introduce a municipal award for children and young people aged 4 to 18 years. Both a youth ribbon and the youth volunteer award. With this, she wanted to highlight young people with a role model function.
The design of the award
Former childrens mayor Bente Tijssen called on students to participate in a design competition for the award. The winning entry came from Rijk Bohler. His design shows two people lifting the logo of Overbetuwe together – a symbol of strength and cooperation and that everyone is welcome in our municipality.
What is the youth volunteer award?
The youth volunteer award is for children and young people from Overbetuwe who commit themselves to others. Think of helping at a sports club, organizing a neighborhood party, or visiting lonely people. The winner receives a beautiful award and a certificate. Starting in 2025, the award will be presented every year on the first Wednesday of June.
From left to right: Evert Westerbeek (deputy mayor), Benthe Riemsdijk (childrens mayor), Link Veens (winner of the youth volunteer award).
Photography: Nienke Wiering