I’ve known the owner of NicoNico in The Hague for quite a few years. It had been a while since I last visited her shop. During our most recent meeting, I passionately told her about our foundation and the work we do in the Mindoro region of the Philippines. Knowing that for many people in the Philippines, shoes are a luxury, I asked her if I could buy some shoes from her for our foundation at a symbolic price.

After hearing my story, she enthusiastically exclaimed, “No way!” — but it wasn’t meant negatively. She meant, “I won’t let you pay. This is for a good cause!”

I explained to her that I prefer to collect unworn shoes to send to the children at the school and to our newly opened gift and giveaway shop. Nicole van Suylen, the owner of NicoNico, immediately got to work on this.

NicoNico has been around since 1994 and is now located at Frederikstraat 45 in the center of The Hague. At NicoNico, they sell shoes, but their collection also includes clothing and accessories. The store is known for its beautiful and unique designs, both in shoes and clothing.

A few days after our visit, we received a message that two large boxes were ready for pickup.

For us, it’s always special to see that there are still so many people who want to contribute and help. It’s a wonderful feeling when you are not turned away, especially when it comes to helping others. This is a moment to remember — especially since we received the donation on our 27th wedding anniversary. What a beautiful gift we gratefully accepted, knowing it will bring joy to so many children and families in the Philippines.

Of course, you want to help everyone, but you can never reach them all. Still, with every pair of shoes you give, children don’t just walk to school — they walk toward a future full of hope.

Through this update, we will keep you informed about the journey of this generous donation: the preparations, the shipping, and of course, the arrival in the Philippines.

On behalf of Stichting Ama Namin, we would like to thank NicoNico and Nicole van Suylen for this donation. As a token of appreciation, we gave her some treats from the Philippines along with a beautiful bouquet designed by Rowena’s Own Creation (ROC). Naturally, we couldn’t leave out the house brand of Toko 4 All, Papa Dolfo Ice Cream, which we will deliver to her personally.