Meet Anouk, a passionate and inspiring new addition to Gump! With her unique view of wonder and a deep curiosity about people and stories, she brings a fresh energy. In this interview, we dive into Anouk's background and discover what drives her, what her dreams are within Gump, and how her journey has brought her here. Curious about Anouk? Then read on!

Welcome, Anouk! Let's start at the beginning. Where are you from?

“I think my interest in this profession comes from a curiosity for teams. That used to be in the sport of hockey. When I was playing hockey as a young girl, we as a team received both physical and mental guidance. We weren't talking about how to get the ball into the goal as quickly as possible, but about how to do it together. What your role within the team is, how you contribute, and what you can better let go of. That's when something happened inside me, a click, that was a magical moment for me. Then I thought: “Yes, I want to do this later too.” Getting it moving without the need for a stick and ball. I think that's the origin.”

So after your studies, you rolled into this field. What else is important to you in this work?

“For me, it's also about capturing stories. Everyone has their unique story and sharing those stories creates a connection. For example, I have also worked a lot with newcomers, children and elderly people. For me, hearing their stories is really the ultimate thing there is. The child's playfulness and the wise lessons of older people, they still have so much to say. Just put me somewhere in a retirement home with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, I really love that.”

What is your unique story that you will bring to Gump?

“I think I'm bringing my gaze of wonder. I can constantly wonder about people, animals, plants. For me, the glasses are always pink, but also with a sharp edge, because we don't live at Disneyland. But I think I can keep marveling at all the beauty around us. And yes, that makes me a curious person. And even when I make a plan, have an idea or see an opportunity, I always go for it. I think a lot is just possible when we do it together.”

Great! That is very welcome. How did your time at Gump start?

“First of all, I got to participate as a participant with Gump For Each Other! I really look back on it with gratitude. I found it very special to be able to join a group that saw me as part of that group from the first moment, and that's how I felt. Three days of Pieterpad... that's where I learned so much. There was one participant who gave a completely new meaning to the word “authenticity” and how strongly she used that word. That really inspired me, so I can always rely on it.”

Gump's values are fun, trust, and courage. Which one appeals to you the most and why?

“All three of them come back to me quite well, but I think it's mostly trust. One of my values is also trust. I think trust is very important, “do what you say”. As a teammate, colleague or girlfriend, you need to be able to trust that, so I'll go back to the hockey field anyway: what agreements do you make with each other, what do we find important and which ones do you stick to? But we can also trust each other that we can talk to each other about that. That may be the harder side of trust, but I think that is very important. As for courage, for me it may be more in the small things, and it is sometimes more courageous for me to say no than yes!”

A nice start, it sounds like. What do you dream about Gump?

“I would like to go out with the Partnership groups in collaborations with the foundations, such as the On The Move Sports Friends group that I joined as a participant. I would also like to discover a new part of the Pieterpad and create my own content program for it. But first, of course, I'm really curious to see what Gump already has!”

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