I have already had an Outdoor Office Day that Thursday at Stadskwekerij De Kas, a residents’ initiative in a former garden centre in Blijdorp. Marja Versteeg and Eva Bes have been creating a magical, hidden oasis there – with a bevy of volunteers – since 2016. They work to raise awareness on biodiversity in the city and do all kinds of cool experiments with water collection in the frame of climate change. They also sell organic plants and rent out spaces.
But I think one of the best things is the emphasis on easy accessibility for their volunteers. There are two volunteer days per week and you can decide on the day itself whether you come and for how many hours. This makes it easier for volunteers with e.g. health problems.
After a day with my laptop in the sun at De Kas, I arrive at Mensa Mensa. MM calls itself: people’s canteen. They argue: if food is a basic need, affordable, good food should therefore be a basic provision.’ Vanessa recently started working there as a community builder. She and I eat a blissful, colourful vegan meal for 5 euros.
After dinner we see the performance ‘Lost Youth’, about the 80,000 children affected by the big Dutch tax scandal. The play – production of RotterdamsWijkTheater – is so painful. The loneliness of the three children of this broken family pulsates throughout the play. The stories are based on interviews with victims of the scandal by Ninny Duarte. The three young actors carry their heavy roles so beautifully. Afterwards, we engage in conversation as an audience.