A group of 21 youths from the Emergency Shelter AZC Walibi came to support BAS 1 on Saturday during the last home game before the winter. This visit was organized by volunteers from the Protestant church community in Biddinghuizen in collaboration with BAS Voetbal.
The emergency shelter does not have the same facilities as the regular AZC. That is why volunteers from different churches in the region organized a program of activities at the request of COA. With regular activities such as language lessons, creative afternoons and children’s activities. This year many families registered, which means that there are more than 300 children under the age of 18. These are also young people. During an introduction, the volunteers asked what they wanted to do: football. They take young people (12-15 years old) from countries like Yemen, Palestine, Syria and Iraq.
Clapping the song in the club
Upon arrival, the youth were allowed to sit in the stands. They are explained that the color of BAS is red. They enjoyed the first part with great joy. When the score became 1-0, they jumped enthusiastically, enthusiastically cheered and clapped to the club song. From half time they continued to play football in another field. The vests and balls have been prepared by volunteers from BAS Voetbal. The teams split up and played themselves in the second half. A regular BAS supporter came to watch and thought it would be great to have it together.
Play football by yourself
If there is a scout, he knows some talents. The men did not spend time drinking in the canteen. They were happy that they could finally play football on their own, which was not possible in the emergency shelter, and so they drank lemonade on the sidelines. After a group photo, they went to watch the last ten minutes of the first team.
Young people don’t want to get back in the cars until they are sporting handshakes with the players coming off the field. Some of the first team made time for the boys: ‘It’s great that you came to watch. I saw you sitting in the stands.’ ‘How wonderful that you are here, you are good.’ And so the youth were returned to the Emergency Shelter AZC Walibi with big smiles on their faces. Despite the cold there are warm memories of Biddinghuizen.
Open until March
The AZC Walibi Emergency Shelter will remain open until March. Emergency Shelter wants to organize more activities for the youth in the near future. Anyone who has ideas or wants to help (once-off) or become a driver can send an email to oudopvangwalibi@gmail.com.