Ten years ago, Road of Hope began with a simple conviction: that people rebuilding their lives in a new country deserved not only practical support, but also community, dignity and belonging.
On Friday, June 12, that conviction filled the halls of Casa Sophia as approximately 45 current and former volunteers, coordinators, board members, families and community partners gathered to celebrate the organization’s tenth anniversary at an event titled “Legacy Gathering: Stories That Continue to Inspire.”
Hosted by Road of Hope Chairman Brian Burgoon, a professor at the University of Amsterdam, and translated into Dutch by Rosalee Jansen, the event brought together multiple generations of people who have contributed to or benefited from the organization’s work.
“It is truly special to see so many familiar faces. Tonight is about celebrating people.” Burgoon told attendees as he opened the evening and his remarks introduced a program centered on storytelling, reflection and gratitude.
A Promise Made in a Refugee Camp
The organization’s founder, Patricia Barendregt, traced Road of Hope’s origins back to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.
She recounted an encounter with a Syrian woman she interviewed while conducting research for her master’s degree. As the interview ended, the woman asked what would happen with the stories she had shared. “When I told her I was going to write my master’s thesis,” Patricia recalled, “she asked me to give voice to their suffering and tell people what life was really like for refugees.” The conversation became a turning point, and “I came back to the Netherlands carrying that voice in my heart,” she said.
What followed was the creation of Road of Hope, an organization dedicated to supporting refugees, newcomers and vulnerable communities through social support, community-building and empowerment initiatives.
“When Road of Hope first began, we did not know exactly what it would become,” Patricia said. “We only knew that community matters. Human connection matters. Dignity matters”. Today, the organization operates six projects serving diverse groups of newcomers in the Netherlands. Yet, Patricia emphasized that the organization’s greatest achievement cannot be measured through programs alone, “the real legacy is relationships,” she said. “The courage people found again. The friendships that started here. The moments of hope that continued beyond projects.”
Stories Across Generations
The highlight of the evening was a series of “Legacy Talks,” bringing together voices from different chapters of the organization’s history. Among the speakers was Adriane Vieira, former coordinator and one of the founding mentors of the Breath of Hope Project, who reflected on the early years of building community programs and supporting newcomer women.
Recalling one particularly meaningful moment, Adriane shared: “I remember inviting one of the participants to our office for a cup of coffee. She had already been involved in many of our activities. As we talked, I told her, ‘Whenever you want, you can come here and have coffee with us like we are having today.’ She looked at me and said, ‘Whenever Road of Hope is here, I know I have a home here.’ At that moment, I understood exactly why we do this work.”
Together with Mayra Brisola, Adriane helped launch the Breath of Hope Project in 2018. Today, she is based in Lisbon, where she continues working with migrant and refugee communities through another organization.
Mayra Brisola, whom Adriane credited as a key partner in those early years, joined the event through a video message from Brazil. Reflecting on her time at Road of Hope, she spoke about how the experience shaped her professional journey and deepened her commitment to humanitarian work. Today, she serves as a Project Officer with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Together, Adriane’s and Mayra’s stories illustrated a recurring theme throughout the evening: the impact of Road of Hope often extends far beyond the time people spend within the organization, continuing to influence careers, communities, and lives across the world.
From Receiving Support to Giving It
The most emotional moments came from some of the first families assisted by Road of Hope. One mother shared how her daughter, who was only 11 years old when they first received guidance regarding the Dutch education system, is now preparing to enter university.
Another woman, Leila, described arriving in the Netherlands while her husband and daughter remained in Iran. “During the worst moment of my life, I met Road of Hope,” she said. Initially seeking assistance with family reunification, she later became a volunteer herself, helping Afghan and Iranian newcomer women through translation. “To be helped and to help others gave me the strength to be here,” she said.
Mohamed Alzeer, originally from Syria, recalled arriving in Amsterdam in 2016 with his family and facing the challenges common to many newly arrived refugees. “We had many struggles finding our way,” he said. And a friend eventually directed him to “a Brazilian woman who speaks Arabic”, which gave him the impulse to look for Patricia.”Since we met Patricia, everything started to move very fast,” he said. “She became very close to us, not as clients, but as friends.” Alzeer also credited Road of Hope’s Entrepreneurship Project with helping him understand Dutch systems and establish his own business.
His wife, Maha, described feeling overwhelmed during her first months in the Netherlands, particularly after an accident involving one of her children. A decade later, she now leads Amalia Academy, an organization that supports newcomer women through integration programs, professional training and business incubation. “Getting help at the beginning gave me hope,” she said. “Not only for me, but for many other women.”
Building New Leaders
Another guest, Yara, shared how she first encountered Road of Hope after arriving in the Netherlands as a coach in 2023. “I kept hearing the name Road of Hope,” she said. Seeking volunteer opportunities, she joined the organization and eventually began collaborating professionally through her own initiative, Thamarat, which now partners with Road of Hope on workshops and activities.
Yara’s story highlighted an evolution seen repeatedly throughout the evening: participants becoming volunteers, volunteers becoming leaders, and leaders creating new opportunities for others.
Looking Ahead
As the event drew to a close, Patricia returned to the stage for a final reflection.”Road of Hope was never built by one person alone,” she said. “It was built through many hands, many stories, many acts of care, courage, patience and commitment.” She paused before offering what became the evening’s closing message.
“The values remain. The relationships remain. The hope remains.”
The evening concluded with Turkish dinner and informal conversations as former volunteers, families, and team members continued reconnecting around the tables. Before the meal, some of the first families supported by Patricia gathered at the front of the room to lead the birthday song, marking the organization’s tenth anniversary. The celebration ended with a group photo that brought together many of the people who have shaped Road of Hope over the past decade.
The photograph served as a record of more than an anniversary. In one frame stood former newcomers, volunteers, coordinators, board members, and part of the community whose paths had crossed through Road of Hope at different moments in its history.
You can see more images from this celebration on Road of Hope’s Instagram and the entire event was streamed by our YouTube Channel.