Eye for each other and the world around us
For many people and businesses, 2020 turned out to be a more difficult year than expected. A year in which difficult periods seemed to alternate with even more difficult periods, but it also turned out to be a year in which we became even more mindful of each other and the world around us. For example, at Uniglobe Alliance Travel and goMICE took the initiative to dedicate ourselves weekly to social agencies and provide some extra help to those in need. Every colleague has been given the freedom to use a few hours each week to volunteer or contribute to an organization, charity or social initiative.
Extra eye for the elderly - Project manager, Nadia de Bruijn
I, Nadia de Bruijn - Project Manager at goMICE, have chosen to help an elderly lady walk her two little dogs, Jack and Brise. Due to her poor health, she has not been able to take her four-legged friends out for some time now and needs help with this. Together with some other volunteers a weekly schedule is made to make sure the dogs get enough exercise.
On average, I help this lady walk Jack and Brise about twice a week. For several years I had a Boerboel weighing about 55 kilos, so the first few weeks I had to get used to walking two small dogs. Meanwhile we have become good buddies and the dogs are happy every time I pick them up for a walk.
Besides the fact that it is obviously necessary to walk the dogs, I also notice that the lady really enjoys having a chat and a cup of coffee together. Many, mostly single, elderly people face the problem that they get lonely quickly. A visit makes the day spin a little more for them and makes their old age a lot more enjoyable. The enormous gratitude the lady shows and expresses to me is, of course, worth a great deal.
Help in COVID department - Manager of Operations , Eveline Repko
The paragraph below is derived from a published article by Omroep Zeeland. Click here To read the full article.
From booking business trips to providing care assistance. Eveline Repko, Manager of Operations at Uniglobe Alliance Travel in Goes, occasionally jumps in at the Corona department of a healthcare facility in her area. In addition to answering the phone, Eveline helps the care workers in the department with all kinds of hand and hand services. The busy care facility is extremely pleased with the extra help and says that the hospitality that Eveline normally requires for her work in the travel industry comes in very handy in care.
Eveline's personal experience in the COVID department:
Under the guise of an emergency, I assisted in the COVID care unit last week. Dressed in protective gear, which includes apron with sleeves, hairnet, mouthpiece, gloves and splash goggles, I was allowed to enter the ward.
Here the Corona patients are in their own rooms where they are cared for by healthcare professionals. It varies very much from patient to patient, some are just out of bed and have few symptoms and others are really sick in bed. But either way, they no longer need hospital care. So some of the elderly stay here just to sit out the infectious period and (fortunately) have little to no symptoms. The care professionals were very happy with my help to take care of the breakfasts because in principle they do not have the time for that.
After such a morning in the COVID department, I do drive back home with a very satisfied feeling to get back to work on the business travel applications there. "It's a totally different industry of course, but I'm glad I can help in this way!" said Eveline.
Children of the Food Bank Foundation - End of Year Action
Christmas for many people means: coziness, good food and giving and receiving gifts. But unfortunately, this is not self-evident for everyone in the Netherlands. Children of the Food Bank Foundation opposes child poverty in the Netherlands and supports children with, for example, clothing packages, days out or a birthday present. Of course, no Christmas gift should be missing for these children during Christmas. Therefore, the teams of Uniglobe Alliance Travel and goMICE have jointly committed to the Foundation Children of the Food Bank. All colleagues bought one or more gifts and wrapped them together with their own children. After collecting a large pile of beautifully wrapped gifts, we handed all the gifts to our contact person at the Foundation. Great to hear how she spoke with passion about the value for the children and the heartwarming reactions of the families.
During, but certainly after, the Corona crisis, let's continue to look out for each other!
Want to read more about our social and community actions? Read here on the experiences of Managing Director Anita for the Red Cross and of Business Travel Consultant Marieke at the Food Bank.
Team Uniglobe Alliance Travel & goMICE
