Charity: Stichting Vluchteling (The Refugee Foundation)
tíc Goal: Raise €1000 for Stichting Vluchteling
tíc Raised: €950 raised for Stichting Vluchteling!!
by Dagmara Gielen-Bernacka
15 Jun 2019. This year, between all the fun social activities, tíc members participated in a Dutch charity event — the 10th edition of de Nacht van de Vluchteling (The Night of the Refugee).
This event is organised by the Netherlands Refugee Foundation, in which thousands of participants walk in the middle of the night to raise money (and awareness) for emergency aid for refugees worldwide. The team had a goal to raise €1000 for the foundation and we managed to secure €950 in donations!!
This unique event took place in 8 different cities across the Netherlands.The tíc team decided to walk our 20 kilometers in Rotterdam, breathing in its one-of-a-kind modern and industrial atmosphere. As someone that secretly is still in love with weird architecture that many find ugly, I must say, I loved every kilometer of our trip, from the mighty harbour, through the market square to the green outskirts of the city and back. Rotterdam is a city that was decimated during WWII, so I must say it felt quite accurate to visit it for such an event as The Night of the Refugee.
What an opportunity it was to not only ‘walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes’, but also to actually get so much more out of it. Twenty kilometers doesn’t sound like much, yet most of us really reached our physical boundaries. We arrived at the finish line just in time to see the brave group of people about to walk the main, 40 km distance. Hats off to them!
It was lovely to meet cheering, friendly people along the way and the actual refugees really being touched that someone cares. We were also lucky with the weather – a sunny afternoon followed by a refreshingly calm night.
It might have cost us a couple of days of recovery, but it was worth it. 😊 A night never to be forgotten. Peace!
#tilburginternationalclub #charitywalk #nachtvandevluchteling #expatlife #nightoftherefugees
Tilburg International Club 