To the Youth Fund Sports & Culture North Holland page
North Holland | July 30, 2020
Ambassador Thomas Ouwejan: 'Sports are fun, and I want every child to experience that'
Sporty family
Thomas comes from a sporty family. "My brother played a lot of hockey when I was younger, and my father played a lot of soccer and tennis. Even now, my parents are still athletic and enjoy golf. My parents have been important," says Thomas. "They've always supported me in what I wanted to do. They still encourage me to be the best I can be and keep working hard. That's definitely contributed to where I am today."
Boy's dream
Ever since he was at an amateur club in Heiloo, Thomas dreamed of a football career. Thomas is now 23 and has already played 115 matches for AZ. How do I see the future? "I'd love to be a starter for a great club in Germany or Italy someday. That style of football really appeals to me. Working hard and not complaining—that suits me."
Orange shirt on
My ultimate dream? "Yes, that's definitely playing for the Dutch national team," Thomas continues. "I've played a lot of matches for the Dutch Juniors. Those were great experiences. Wearing the orange shirt is the icing on the cake. But I'm not there yet; I first have to keep working on myself!"
'I didn't know that so many families lived in poverty, that really affected me.'
Thomas is an ambassador for our fund. “When I was approached to become an ambassador, I started looking into what the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture does. One in nine children in the Netherlands can't play sports due to a lack of money—those are serious figures. And that's not even considering the impact of the coronavirus crisis. I was struck by the fact that so many children can't actually participate in sports or cultural activities. I grew up in an environment where there was plenty of money for sports. My friends were all able to play sports, too. When I see what sports taught me as a child and the energy I can put into it—you shouldn't miss that as a child, right? Besides, sports are an important prerequisite for good health. I want everyone to have that.”
Sports bring you friendships
What do I hope to achieve as an ambassador? I hope I can help even more children in need get registered with the Youth Sports & Culture Fund. Sports are so much fun. You develop wonderful friendships, especially in team sports. I met my two best friends at the amateur club in Heiloo. Friendships like that are priceless!
Culture
"I thought it would be really cool to learn to play the piano. Earlier this year, I bought myself a little keyboard. But it's harder than I thought. I'll just stick to listening to music for now," Thomas laughs.
Follow Thomas
Instagram: @thomasouwejan
Facebook: @thomasouwejan
Read more stories Read more stories from the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture North Holland
