Alderman R.A.N. (Rob) Reuvers

The pressure on healthcare is increasing. We are all noticing this, from residents to healthcare providers. As a municipality, we want to keep healthcare accessible and efficient. That is why we are working to improve our healthcare desk. We are not doing this alone, but together with the residents and healthcare institutions involved. What is going well? What could be improved? We listen, analyze, and improve. Because good healthcare starts with understanding where the needs lie.

In addition to care, we also focus on prevention. An important issue is substance use among young people. Alcohol, drugs, and smoking remain a challenge. That is why we consult with parents of children between the ages of 12 and 18. What do you know about the risks? How do you talk about it at home?

We have drawn up a questionnaire and hope to receive many responses. Parents/guardians in our municipality with children in this age group will receive an invitation in the mail. They can use a QR code to open the digital questionnaire. This will give us a better picture of the concerns and wishes in our community. You can also find the QR code here. The questionnaire can be completed until March 17.

We will then work together on the results of this. Not by pointing fingers, but by raising awareness and making the 'taboo' discussable.
Together we can achieve a lot. By listening, informing, and above all, by continuing the conversation. Because a strong society starts with engagement.

Rob Reuvers
alderman

In West Maas en Waal, we look out for each other. You can see that everywhere. In our villages. On sports fields. In village halls and at locations where children's holiday camps are held. That's where people meet. They play sports, sing, perform in plays, or volunteer. That's the power of our associations.

Associations bring people together. They facilitate contact. They provide enjoyment. They offer meaningful ways to spend time. For young and old alike. They make our villages livable. Not only today, but also in the future. Consider the festivals and carnival celebrations that many villages are known for. 

As an alderman, I see how important this is. A pleasant place to live is about more than just houses and roads. It's about feeling at home. About belonging. About creating something beautiful together. Associations are indispensable in this regard. And together with various professional organizations that carry out our welfare work, among other things, we are increasingly finding a good balance to meet our (care) needs. We take care of each other. 

That is why the municipality supports community life. We listen to ideas. We contribute our thoughts. And I hope we can strengthen this even further. Because without strong communities, we lose something valuable.

I want to thank everyone who is committed to this cause. Whether you're working behind the bar, training, rehearsing, or helping out at a party, you make a difference. You make others feel welcome.

Let's continue to do that together. You don't have to do anything big. Every contribution counts. Drop by a club or association. Lend a hand. Or encourage others to do so. Together, we can keep our villages lively and warm.

Because in West Maas en Waal, we care about each other.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday.

Rob Reuvers
Alderman for Social Affairs

At home, I am the father of Rosanne (14) and Milan (11). At work, I am an alderman for social affairs. In both roles, I learn from young people every day. Sometimes in a confrontational way. Because, to be honest, my children hold up a mirror to me more often than I would like. It's quite uncomfortable, but also valuable. It helps us to understand each other better.

What strikes me—both at home and in conversations with young people in the community—is how much potential they have. They think critically, have a keen sense of what is going on in the world, and are not afraid to ask questions. I admire that.

Still, I am concerned. Being a teenager has never been easy, but today it demands even more. Pressure to perform, social media, uncertainty about the future: young people have to find their way in a world full of expectations. That creates friction. Between rules and freedom. Between letting go and holding on.

What do they need? Trust. Understanding. Boundaries. And above all, a safe environment where they are allowed to make mistakes. As parents, teachers, neighbors, and as a community, we can make a difference. Not just by talking about young people, but above all by listening to them.

We are doing this more and more often in West Maas en Waal. For example, this summer we worked with young people to set up a Youth Meeting Place (JOP). A place where they can meet, play sports, laugh, and just be themselves. A great example of what can happen when you really involve young people.

And there's more. On Thursday, September 18, there will be a theater performance about teenagers and temptations at the MFA De Rosmolen. On Thursday, October 1, the annual Puberpraat (Teen Talk) will take place in Druten. Two free evenings full of recognition, tips, and encounters.

Let's keep talking to our teenagers. Especially when it's difficult. Because they are not only the future—they are also the present.
Because that's how we keep an eye on each other.

Rob Reuvers
Alderman for Social Affairs