#Vteam walks for friendship, peace and freedom

It was a true highlight for the children and youth of the #Vteam: walking the Nijmegen Four-Day Walk. But the #Vteam does more than "just" walk. Throughout the year, these children dedicate themselves to peace, freedom and friendship. "We hear so many stories, that makes a lot of impression," says Ilja (17).

It was a Four Days Marches with aching feet and muscles, long days and above all a lot of enjoyment. The young people of the #Vteam have been walking for several years, led by children's correspondent Tako Rietveld. This year, 11-year-old Janne was children's march leader. It was her first Vierdaagse.

Some of the children who participated for the first time were accompanied by #Vteam veterans: young people who have been part of the #Vteam for some time. Like Ilja. She was the first children's #Vteam march leader in 2017. In the years when the Four Days Marches did not take place, the #Vteam continued to exist because it does more than walk. The Nijmegen Marches is the highlight the kids work toward. But around that, the #Vteam is involved in many ways with events around peace and freedom. For example, they attended Ukraine Day and the national Veterans Day.

The young people got to know each other well. In preparation for the Four-Day Walk, they went to camp at the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek. They were given a tour of the museum and did activities with Marines who came to visit. They also visited the Canadian War Cemetery. And of course there was good food, laughter and also hiking. This is how the #Vteam produces beautiful friendships.

Ilja realizes that she has learned a lot about the importance of peace and security in recent years. "We have often met veterans or talked to people who have experienced war. We hear the stories and take them with us in our own backpacks," she says. They also have many conversations during the Four Days Marches with each other, with other runners and with military personnel walking along. "My backpack is not only filled with experiences and stories, but also with pins and other souvenirs from soldiers."

This year's #Vteam also included Pasha (17) from Ukraine. He turned 16 during the Four Days Marches, so he walked 40 kilometers a day. His sister Katja is only 10 years old and was not allowed to walk yet. Brother and sister are together in the Netherlands, their parents are still in Ukraine, fighting the war. For Pasha and Katja, the #Vteam is a warm bath where they feel at home. Pasha: "It is beautiful to walk for peace and freedom. I am very grateful that we can be there."

What does the #Vteam do?

The vfonds (national fund for peace, freedom and veteran care), together with #Vteam, wants the voice of youth to be heard, inspiring young and old to work for a peaceful society and strong democratic rule of law. That also means treating each other with respect and understanding others. The young ambassadors, who are between the ages of 10 and 15, join various projects supported by the vfonds and participate in numerous activities and excursions. As a result, children learn to develop themselves on a social, cultural and societal level. In the process, #Vteam creates new connections: between children and youth, between adults and youth, and between organizations.

We are Nynke, Jari, Eppo, Jeroen, Jens and the other #Vteam veterans. In 2018, we became friends during the first practice hikes. During the corona period and the lockdowns, the #Vteam got us through. There we were allowed to keep seeing each other and still be able to do cool things, like camp. We never forget that. We've been through so much together. Our friendship will never break down again.

Katja is one of this year's honorary members of the #Vteam. Together with her brother Pasha, she fled the war in Ukraine. At the #Vteam she can be completely herself, forget all her worries for a while and most of all have fun. "The best part is being part of a group of kids who all want to help each other," she said.

The kids on the #Vteam support each other when they are struggling. For a moment, Puck lost her 4Daagse medal after finishing. "There are worse things," jokes Pasha who fled from Ukraine. "But you can have mine."

Sharing ice creams with British soldiers makes for much merriment. The children of the #Vteam call attention to friendship, peace and freedom. Some moments everything comes together.

"Adults can learn a lot from children," said team captain Tako. "For example, children are much freer, happier and more cheerful than adults. Did you know that a child laughs at least 300 times a day and an adult only 15 times? If we listened to children more, the world would really become a lot more beautiful."

"I am Sofie and to me the #Vteam means mostly having fun. Singing songs along the way, telling jokes and that way you also make friends right away. The walking also went much faster and easier this way. I am very proud of myself and all the other kids. I have learned that I can do more than I think myself."