Volunteer at five organisations: Marc's story

Marc is a volunteer at five organisations in Aalst. Yet he only has one fixed time slot per week: Wednesday evening, Digipunt.

"In all my commitments, I am the same Marc: highly dedicated, open and enthusiastic."

Marc Van der Schueren is a civil engineer and worked in IT in the banking sector for years. When the City of Aalst saw our call for volunteer stories, they immediately thought of him.

Can you volunteer for multiple organisations at once without it becoming overwhelming? This is how Marc does it, with five lessons for those who want to start themselves and a few tips for those working with volunteers.

Marc in brief

• Civil engineer, active in IT in the banking sector for many years

• Volunteer since June 2020, currently at five organisations in Aalst

• Found seven of his commitments via the city's volunteer platform

• Avid cyclist

Five commitments, one fixed appointment

On paper, five very different things. Yet according to Marc, they have something in common: IT, communication and problem-solving.

Why volunteering after retirement, and not consultancy?

That Marc would cycle more after retiring was a given. But he also wanted to give something back to the city where he was born and raised. Many former colleagues became consultants or took a seat on a board of directors. Marc consciously chose not to do that.

"Initially, I didn't know there was so much demand for volunteers, and that so many things would appeal to me."

From his career he brought along his energy and drive, as well as his experience with projects and people. What he consciously left behind: deadlines, hierarchy and administration.

How do you end up at five organisations?

It started with an intentional search. In June 2020, Marc found his first commitment via the City of Aalst's volunteer website: receptionist at ASZ, now AZORG. Shortly after followed DUO for a JOB, Library at home, the carnival parade and Heritage Day. Every time through that website, which today is the Give a Day platform. At the launch of that platform, he even gave training to the volunteers at library Utopia. Later he also found Digipunt and Home Start there.

The rest happened differently. For BIN Station, he approached the police Prevention department himself. For Retroraad, a city employee asked him after he helped with a survey of seniors. And his neighbourhood committee asked him because they noticed he could help.

Do you work with volunteers? Two of Marc's five commitments started because someone noticed his skills. Your next key figure might already be walking around in your organization.

A Wednesday evening at Digipunt

Every Wednesday evening, Marc is at the administrative centre of Aalst, usually three of them: someone from Ligo, the centre for adult basic education, and two volunteers. Before 6 p.m. there are already about five people waiting. On busy evenings, more than twenty people drop by.

The audience is diverse. People with a residence permit who need to activate itsme. Over-sixties who suddenly have to use an app because the analogue alternative is disappearing. People whose partner passed away, and who relied on that partner for everything digital.

"Fortunately, we can rely on AI, because I don't immediately have a solution for every problem either."

In business, every new software program came with internal training, Marc notes. Apps for the general public are released as if everyone can just use them. And anyone who gets stuck ends up with a call center with a script.

Recently he helped a man who didn't want to use itsme. Using digital keys, he was finally able to consult mypension.be, something he had been wanting to do for months.

"Those people are incredibly grateful and leave for home with a big smile."

You can read more about Marc at Digipunt in this article by the City of Aalst.

Volunteer at multiple organisations: five lessons to keep it up

1. Don't start everywhere at once

At the start of his retirement, Marc applied to several organisations. Suddenly they all coincided: ASZ, DUO for a JOB and Library at home.

"That was a bit too much of a good thing, because all three claimed fixed slots in my schedule."

The reception at ASZ gave him the most satisfaction at the time, so he stayed there. For a while. He let the other two run their course naturally. After his first mentorship, he did not ask for a new mentee. And when the lady to whom he brought books every four weeks passed away, he did not take on a new Library at home assignment.

2. Choose one fixed anchor

For one commitment, Marc keeps one time slot free every week: Digipunt. The rest are separate meetings and activities, and he is clear about that.

"I let them know that I prefer to keep my Wednesday evenings free."

3. Keep control of your own schedule

Everything is in Marc's diary. The organisations know he is active elsewhere too, and he manages how it fits in himself. In case of a double booking, he decides himself what takes priority.

"Usually that doesn't cause any problems. That's also the advantage of volunteering: it's voluntary."

4. Invest once, save time later

Besides the fixed moments, there is the work no one sees. Recently, Marc created a template for the neighbourhood committee's newsletter. It took a lot of time, but future newsletters require hardly any work from him. By the way, he doesn't count those hours.

"If you enjoy doing something, you happily put a lot of time into it without really counting it."

5. Change commitments, not yourself

Marc stopped commitments that ultimately gave him too little satisfaction. At DUO for a JOB, he put a huge amount of energy into his mentee, but they dropped out after four months. Even ASZ, which he chose right at the start, he let go after three years. A new registration system changed the reception role. There was little variation left, and it became too repetitive.

"If after a while it no longer clicks for one reason or another, I don't change myself, because then I'm no longer Marc. I'd rather end the assignment then."

What retains a volunteer like Marc

Marc knows exactly what gives him energy: working on a project with people, seeking solutions, an intellectual challenge, something new.

"At a moment like that, it only costs me time, and I get a lot back in return."

What drains his energy is just as clear: repetitive tasks, and tasks where you feel like you are mainly cheap labour. Fortunately, he rarely experiences that. Almost all organisations support their volunteers more than properly, with peer review sessions and informal appreciation moments.

"You are appreciated for your commitment, and that is also repeatedly expressed, especially at Digipunt!"

Remember this as a coordinator. Marc stopped at ASZ because the work became too repetitive. If you want to keep an experienced volunteer, look first at the tasks that are the same every week.

Try it. And stop if it doesn't click.

What does Marc say to someone who has just retired and is hesitant? Try it, and find out if it suits you.

"Also be honest with yourself and stop if it costs you more energy than it yields."

Stopping is part of it. The organisations you leave are grateful to you anyway. And along the way you discover where you add real value.

"If it's a perfect match, you get so much gratitude and satisfaction in return, and you won't be judged if you stop."

Do you also know a Marc?

The City of Aalst didn't have to think long when we asked for volunteer stories. As a city, municipality or organisation, do you also know a volunteer with a story that inspires others? Share it with us, and we will share it with the world.

Thank you, Marc

Thank you for your insights, your time and your honesty about what didn't work. Thanks also to the City of Aalst, who immediately thought of you.

Sources

• Interview with Marc Van der Schueren, volunteer in Aalst.

• Marc helps people with digital questions as a Digi-volunteer, City of Aalst, May 2026: aalst.be

• Photo: © Robbe De Wael, with permission.