Jeltje Spoelstra, an 83-year-old Dutch pensioner, dedicates her life to helping those in need. For more than 35 years, she has been at the forefront of humanitarian initiatives, organizing aid shipments to countries such as Romania and Ukraine.
The decision to volunteer for humanitarian purposes came 35 years ago. Jeltje Spoelstra and her husband took on this mission with dedication and love for people.
Their first visit to Romania, in 1989, was a turning point in their lives. The experience in a country under the communist dictatorship of Ceaușescu opened his eyes to the realities of poverty and need.
Following that trip, they decided to continue providing support, which led to the establishment of the Hulp Oost-Europa Foundation. He fell in love with Romania and returned another 39 times with aid for hospitals, schools and churches.
“I really like the love, generosity and hospitality of Romanians. I really have Romania in my soul,” said the woman, according to stiridiaspora.ro.
It has also collaborated with organizations such as Dorcas and mobilized the local community to collect aid for nursing homes in Romania and affected people in Ukraine, where the armed conflict has generated a humanitarian crisis.
After losing her husband, Jeltje continued her mission to help vulnerable people. And even if he is now 83 years old, the number of hours he dedicates to volunteering depends on the generosity of donors.
For Jeltje, every donation is a chance to make a difference in the lives of those in need, facing all obstacles such as strict border controls or the high costs of returning non-compliant goods.
Tags: Romania heart Jeltje pensioner helping vulnerable people country years
