The Dutch people have a special day they celebrate every year. This day is called Queens Day. The Birthday of the Queen is celebrated and besides people selling all sorts of things around the Netherlands, there is also a lot of peace promotion that organizations go out to strengthen the bond of unity and togetherness.
As YSI Rotterdam two of my Team mates Simona and Kathy went to Delft to help at a project with UNOY the young peace builders. They were active having people sign some peace message on blackboards to tell what peace means to them. After that pictures with the people and their peace signs were made.
Both of them enjoyed the day in Delft, since it is also a very historic city. Exploring the Town and looking around what people were doing on Queens day.
I myself stayed in Rotterdam to help out at a nearby playground where I usually volunteer. On Queens day we had Kids selling their toys and books and what comes with it. Due to the rainy weather, not so many kids came along. This changed later on as we had the Race with the tread cars, skateboards, balls and some more things. Also the rain disappeared a little more and the sun was making its way through. We had 4 Teams with different colors competing in the activity. My Team got on place 3, which was good for them I feel because they were a bit of a bully Team^^. But everyone got some price finally.
Besides having these organized activities I took time to play and talk to the kids, which I feel is always important for them. Sometimes I feel that kids need some more attention, in terms that some adult, if not the parent, plays with them and in that way can also help them to mature and become responsible people when they grow up. But this can almost only be done in the family which to my opinion has the biggest impact on the children.
It was a nice Queens day, I myself didn’t get to see the big activities around the city, but I felt useful at the playground and for me it was worth it, to try to find ways how I can contribute to the well being of people and society.
(Benjamin Hookway)
