This week, we introduce you to Rens, our IT manager at North Star Alliance’s Utrecht Office in the Netherlands.
Before becoming a happy pensioner, Rens had a successful and fruitful career in the IT world where he was running his own consultancy firm.
Wanting to stay active in the community, and with an interest in charities involved in Africa, Rens applied for a position as volunteer for one day a week at North Star. That was more than three years ago and he has “enjoyed every working day since”.
A typical day for Rens will start with the regular maintenance tasks attached to our IT systems, checking if everything is working fine and getting rid of any of the potential glitches or viruses. Then it’s time to catch-up with colleagues around a cup of coffee, listening carefully to their IT needs. Thanks to his wide expanse of knowledge and what seems like superhuman patience, Rens can solve the most bizarre technological issues in the blink of an eye. His mantra is to do everyday at least three things that will make someone else happy, and since he started working for North Star, he has always been a man of his word.
Even though he has no obligation to North Star, and receives no salary, Rens is highly committed to his work and is motivated by the sole idea of playing a role in bringing access to health for those who need it most.
“I wish more people knew about the good work we are doing”, confides Rens. “Through our slick system of small scale clinics, we are reaching out to the men and women who do not enjoy the regular healthcare services we are used to [in the Netherlands]”.
Besides working at North Star, Rens loves to travel with his wife, go out for walks, and hunt with his beloved dog. He also spends heaps of quality time with his seven grandchildren, and works overtime fixing IT issues for his family and friends, who acknowledge him as their go-to IT champion.
Quick quiz: Which of North Star’s PIQuE core values (People, Integrity, Quality, Entrepreneurial Spirit) do you most identify with, and why?
“People matter. The other core values are supporting our organisation to honour this main value.”
