As every year, our Rotaract Scheveningen members joined forces once again to help out at the Voedselbos Mariahoeve (Mariahoeve Food Forest)!

We spent the day preparing the forest for winter, clearing paths, mulching, and taking care of the plants to help them thrive in the colder months. Together we made sure the forest will stay healthy and ready for spring.

This year’s visit was extra special, we also took part in a workshop about soil health, where we learned more about the living world beneath our feet and how important healthy soil is for a resilient ecosystem.

It was a day full of teamwork, learning, and muddy hands, exactly how we like it! 💪
A big thank you to everyone at Voedselbos Mariahoeve for the warm welcome and the inspiration. We’ll be back next year, as always!

🌍✈️ Meet Dunja Hippe: Flight Attendant with a Heart for Service 💙

Hi all! I’m Dunja Hippe, 26 years old and currently living in Voorburg after moving five times in the past six years. I originally grew up in the beautiful province of Overijssel, but now I’ve landed (pun intended 😄) in a place that feels like home!

In daily life, I travel the world as a flight attendant, exploring new destinations and cultures from the sky. When I’m not up in the air, I love going to the gym, playing pool (even if I lose most of the time 😅), going for evening walks on the beach, playing board games, and spending quality time with my friends and family. 🏖️🎱🎲

I’ve been a proud member of Rotaract Den Haag Scheveningen for about a year now and am part of the Local Committee, where we focus on smaller, hands-on community projects. One project I really enjoyed was organizing a present collection in The Hague’s city centre. The gifts were donated to children spending the holidays outside of their own homes due to domestic violence 💝. Another memorable project was helping renovate a home for a woman with mental health challenges—painting, hanging curtains, and installing lamps to make her space feel safe and warm again. 🛠️🖌️

I joined Rotaract because I love meeting new people and making a tangible impact on society. What makes Rotaract unique is its strong national and international network, full of fun events and inspiring guest speakers. Our club is incredibly diverse in lifestyle, nationality, and background—which means every meeting brings new insights and makes the social events extra fun! 🌍🤝

My favourite Rotary area of focus is water, sanitation and hygiene. These are basic human rights, and while we are fortunate in the Netherlands, many people around the world still lack access. I truly believe there’s a lot we can do to help.

And to anyone thinking about becoming a volunteer: JUST DO IT! Even the smallest act of kindness can make a life-changing difference to someone else. You’ll feel better about yourself and gain so much more than you give. 💫

Last year marked the fourth year of our annual Sinterklaas project, bringing warmth and kindness to families who needed it most.

Rotaract Scheveningen raised €578 and used it to buy gifts for 30 young mothers, 5 young fathers, and 34 children, all of whom are living in safe locations after having to leave their homes due to domestic violence.

For the first time, our friends from Rotary Clubs Residentie and Kijkduin joined the effort by collecting and delivering additional gifts themselves. Their support made a real difference and helped us reach even more families this year.

We also came together with our members to wrap all the gifts, an evening full of laughter, care, and the real Sinterklaas spirit. Every present was packed with love and good wishes, ready to bring a smile to someone who truly needed it.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to HEMA, who kindly welcomed us into their store and allowed us to collect gifts for children. Thanks to their generosity, and to everyone who donated, we made sure that every child and parent received something special.

We also want to give a special thanks to Language Matters for their wonderful contribution this year. Their support helped us bring even more joy to the families and made this Sinterklaas edition truly special.

A big thank you to everyone who contributed, and to our Rotary partners for joining us this year. After four years, this project has become a warm tradition of giving, compassion, and community, a true reflection of the spirit of Sinterklaas, Rotary, and Rotaract.