Stijn has been supporting construction camps for 30 years

There are many in the world, anonymous heroes without medals... who don't ask for recognition for what they do, but quietly contribute to a better world. Still, it can't hurt to share their story so that they can in turn inspire others to do a good deed in turn...how great wouldn't that be? Today we are taking matters into our own hands to highlight the initiative of an anonymous hero from 'own house' who has been committed for 30 years: our colleague Stijn and the construction camps of vzw Bouworde!

It is generally known within Verstraete that Stijn spends his summer leave with the KTIW every year(Catholic Technical Institute of Operations) is going on a construction camp. In support of these construction camps, he invariably sells champagne bottles during the autumn holidays. It is therefore great that our colleagues are always reaching into their pockets en masse to make these camps possible.

Because it is a unique fact that our Stijn has been committed to this charity for so long, we have done a small search for Stijn's trajectory within the KTIW.

*A heartfelt thank you to Pierre Clinquart (non-profit association building order) for helping us realize the article below!*

Stijn's trajectory at KTIW

The very beginning

Stijn joined KTIW in the 1990-1991 school year. Our colleague will then be in the second year of the VTI in the wood construction department. He will not yet go on a summer camp to Tyrol.

During his third year in the KTIW - as a full member - he does go to the summer camp and construction camp to Poland. These are the first years of the construction camps. They go to Bardo, refurbishing an orphanage. According to the organization, our Stijn is also starting to stand out: he placed a lot of wall tiles in the industrial kitchen and was able to make good arrangements with those responsible for the other techniques.

During the summer the cycle camp operation moves to England, Lake District.

One of the most disastrous camps ever in the history of the KTIW. During this camp his talents start to stand out more and more: Stijn is not afraid to cycle in front, he likes to discuss (preferably as long as possible - this is something he still likes to do today :) ), if he has to making decisions and stubbornly drawing a line. At the end of this camp, Pierre asks him if he doesn't want to become a KTIW representative next year!

Stijn leads the operation

The KTIW is led by Stijn in the school years '93-'94 and '94-'95. During this period, the KTIW becomes a real 'operation'. In addition to the construction camp in Poland, which includes pouring foundations, placing sewage pipes and pouring a plateau for the sanitary block in Janice (Poland), the bicycle camp and the camp in Tyrol, a telebuilding order is being set up with activities in 'People help people', the refuge for women, the vzw 't Klokje, the parish halls of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw parish, vzw the scarf, the 'Bronnenhuis and the Boomklever in Tiegem etc...

Meanwhile, Stijn is studying building techniques.

Continuing to share knowledge

After leaving school, the operation continues to rely on Stijn's architectural knowledge. Whether it concerns the knowledge of sewers at the Bronnenhuis in Tiegem or the implementation of a concrete retaining wall at DOM A , the car park at DOM F or covering a staircase in natural stone at DOM E in Janice (Poland), he always makes free time between his busy activities at work to answer their questions or, if necessary, to go to Poland for the implementation itself...

Stijn remains committed to this operation to this day and that is why Stijn is certainly an example for us! #top guy

We stand behind Stijn!

Since no Winter drink could take place this year (due to the current circumstances), Francis has decided, in addition to the treat of hot chocolate with butter cakes, to give every employee a bottle of champagne ... a bottle of bubbles, to enjoy in your own bubble! In this way, these construction camps also receive extra support and together we can raise a glass to the new year and also to our 200th anniversary! (albeit from our own room)