Five Thursdays. Five different activities. Five visits to the Cruyff Court in Rotterdam. Coordinator Iebèl Vlieg: “A perfect combination. The courts are already there. The children know where to find them. Now, instead of just keeping the ball in the air, they can experience music, dance, fashion, or building for free. This year, we had a year-3 MAVO class organize the event. A win-win situation.”

Rotterdam. A city with a lot of poverty. Estimates vary, but 1 in 4 or 5 children in this city grows up in a family with financial problems. “That's a lot. I think almost 40,000 children in Rotterdam don't have the opportunity to do anything after school. Joining a club, for example, is too expensive for them. Yet it's so important. Besides school and family, there really should be a place where children can develop in a different way. Where they can experience a 'different world'. Where they can relax, learn new skills, but also meet new people and forget their worries at home for a while. It can also increase resilience and contribute to children's self-confidence, and that's always welcome. Poverty is often not an isolated problem. It's complex and deeply impacts all aspects of a child's life. It's a collection of challenges they have to face. In that case, sports and culture are a way for children to grow and relax.”

Collaboration is a win-win

Iebèl Vlieg has organized the Cultuur@CruyffCourts event twice before in Rotterdam. “This year, we took a different approach. We partnered with the Cultural Education Knowledge Center and a local school, De Hef vocational college. Teachers from this pre-vocational secondary school integrated the project into their curriculum and put the students to work devising and organizing everything this year. It was a huge undertaking! These students are 14-15 years old and, of course, don't have much experience yet. It was fantastic to see how they tackled it. Of course, a lot of guidance was needed, but together we created a fantastic program.”

An interesting experiment

The kickoff was on June 2nd. From that date on, children could participate in the most fun cultural activities for free every Thursday afternoon for five weeks at the Cruyff Court. Freestyle footballer Nasser El Jackson opened the season. A DJ was also present. For five weeks, approximately 100 children from various Rotterdam primary schools participated in various activities. These workshops were supervised by professionals. After school, all children from the neighborhood were welcome to join in dancing, drumming, or painting T-shirts for free. Iebèl Vlieg: "The program was developed based on research by the students of De Hef. They mapped out the neighborhood, spoke with children, looked for activities in the area, and thus created the program. They also explored topics such as production and publicity."

This was an interesting experiment. Young people were given the opportunity to learn about the role of arts and culture in society. What does the neighborhood have to offer, what do the various target groups need, and what services meet these needs? And how do you achieve this on a limited budget? For the participating children from the neighborhood, it's a great opportunity to experience cultural activities for free. They can experience what it's like to make music together with others, build something, or decorate clothes. And hopefully, it will spark something. A new hobby can be born this way. And if the child then wants to join a club, we can help.

Tying it all together

"What I've noticed is that everyone is eager to get involved. All sorts of organizations in Rotterdam are involved," says Iebèl Vlieg. "My role is to connect everyone and keep communication lines short. We often share the same goal, so let's work together. It's difficult to reach the children or their parents directly and introduce them to the Youth Fund. But it's precisely the intermediaries: the teachers, the neighborhood coaches, the social workers who need to know where to find us. They have contact with the families we can help. And this activity, Cultuur@CruyffCourts, puts our work in the spotlight again. This way, we can show once again that culture is for everyone!"

 

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More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

"I'm really looking forward to it. It's the first time we're organizing this in Lelystad, and I hope many children will take advantage of this opportunity." Helene van 't Hoen works at the De Kubus Arts and Culture Centre in Lelystad and, in that role, is the producer for Cultuur@CruyffCourts. "We want to show all the children in Lelystad what great activities there are to do in the city. And hopefully, it'll spark a spark. That's the goal, of course!"

Lelystad has a lot to offer in the cultural field. But not everyone knows where to find everything. "That's why Kubus regularly organizes activities where we connect supply and demand, partly with the help of the Youth Fund." Helene van 't Hoen cites the project Discover your own Cultural City"Secondary school students will cycle to various cultural institutions, discovering what Lelystad has to offer. They'll participate in a light and sound workshop at the theater and paint in an artist's studio. And there's more to discover in Lelystad. Children can work with a 3D printer in a studio or take an airbrush course. These are also activities that aren't common knowledge for everyone. We hope to inspire and enthuse. The goal, of course, is for children to then enroll in a workshop or course. This is also the goal of our collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Foundation and the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture: to reach precisely those children who have difficulty finding their way to cultural centers."

Out onto the street

The Arts and Culture Centre De Kubus has long wanted to be more visible in the neighborhoods. "So, for Cultuur@CruyffCourts, we sought collaboration with community workers and approached children on the street, telling them about the opportunities to participate on the court. We opted for three afternoons before the summer holidays and three immediately after. Sports and cultural clubs are often just finishing up or haven't started yet, so we're filling a gap. We're trying to reach parents with flyers and emailing all 38 schools in Lelystad about the activities."

Four creative expressions

This first year, the workshops will be held on and around a single court: the Cruyff Court Aron Winter Field. Perhaps in the future, it will be possible to expand to more Cruyff Courts in the city. This year, there will be four workshops on several Wednesday afternoons in which children can participate. We're starting with four different creative expressions: dance, music, spatial art, and drawing. We think we can inspire many children with this. After the summer, we also want to offer ceramics with a few potters, for example. Literally, with your hands in the clay. Creating something with your hands. That remains magical. We're also going to make a large sidewalk painting, using chalk paint. Each time, there's an outdoor workshop where everyone, including parents, can join in for the entire afternoon to craft and explore with technology. Youth Fund intermediaries will be present on those afternoons to connect with parents and children. They can help through the Youth Fund if children want to continue, but the membership fee is an obstacle. It's important that they connect with the children and ensure that parents know that financial support is available. So, parents remain key when it comes to the next steps. But during the afternoons themselves, the children are the focus. They should have fun and experience new things.

Going out the door happy

"For me, the project would be successful if children were introduced to an activity before the summer and then returned after the summer for a new series. If they leave happy and perhaps want to sign up for a follow-up with a provider in Lelystad. But especially if they've discovered something new about themselves. Then I'm a happy person." What Helene would most like in the follow-up project is a kind of punch card for a year of various creative, cultural activities. "A kind of studio course where children can explore a wide variety of activities. Children are still so open. They're still curious and absorb everything. Hopefully, there's something that resonates with them, something that resonates. You always look for passion and talent. If you can tap into that, preferably at a young age, you can give someone something valuable for life."

Come see us on Wednesday, August 31st, when World Groundmoves Champion and ambassador Nasser El Jackson will open the event. Check out the program here:

Culture@CruyffCourts Lelystad Programme

More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

Photo: Shot By Sylla.

Organizer, presenter, and DJ. Mark van der Jagt is a jack-of-all-trades. A cultural entrepreneur, passionate about children. He's been involved with the Cruyff Courts for a long time and is now active as the producer of Cultuur@CruyffCourts in Beverwijk and Heemskerk. "To offer something, to stir something, to touch something. That's the goal. Through cultural activities—and that can be very broad—to awaken in children a desire to learn more. That's wonderful. It requires a good program, good execution, good guidance, and above all, the time and space to connect. To connect with the target group. That's my challenge."

Mark van der Jagt (left): 'Introducing children to another world'

Mark van der Jagt actually comes from the sports world. "It's striking. Throw a ball into the group and it doesn't take long for someone to start playing. Put a guitar in the middle and it's quiet for a long time. That has to do with unfamiliarity. Making music, dancing, singing; it's vulnerable. You're really putting yourself on a stage. That can feel unsafe. That takes some getting used to for many children. Culture isn't offered to every child at home. It's often a barrier to entering an 'elite arts center.'

So I bring culture to them. This way they can get to know it and get used to it. That's why I always look for a program that's a mix of familiar and unfamiliar. Rapping and musical singing. Playing the baritone sax and breakdancing. Visual arts and belly dancing. I always hope to tap into a talent in everyone. That a child is captivated by something. Through music, dance, theater, or creating a work of art. That offering accessible activities is a first introduction to something new. That afterward, they feel the need to learn more, to take a course. That's what I always aim for.

Accessible and local

Cultuur@CruyffCourts is a collaboration between the Johan Cruyff Foundation and the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture. The goal is to offer local cultural activities on courts that are already frequently used for accessible sports. The municipality, primary schools, neighborhood coaches, social services, and various cultural institutions often participate as well. Mark van der Jagt: "Here in the region, I work closely with the Cultural Center in Heemskerk and the Center for the Arts in Beverwijk. They know the neighborhood, have local teachers, and can offer activities that are relevant here. Activities that connect with local needs. Activities that are at the heart of the neighborhood, and serve as role models for the children. It's very precise."

I know from experience as a DJ: it's all about tuning. Some music is a floor filler, other numbers are floorkillersYou have to sense that. So you have to connect with the target audience. So, before putting together a program, I listen carefully to and talk with the target audience. What's going on? What are they working on? What resonates and what dies. Something that was very successful, for example, was creating a piece of art together. A piece that will remain on display at the Cruyff Court or be exhibited somewhere. Right now, we're making art from waste; pollution artThere's also a social message in that. We're talking about sustainability, about throwing things away and recycling.

Mix of activities

There are actually three important questions, says Mark. "The first is: who do I want to reach? Who is my target audience? The second is: Where can I reach them? And the last question is: How can I reach them? Once I've mapped all that out, I sit down with potential partners. And that's how we've been developing a varied cultural offering at the local Cruyff Courts for several years now. I want children to be able to experience something different every week. It always has to be a mix of different activities: music, dance, and visual arts. And it has to fit in with the regular, structured offerings of the organizations. This way, participants can easily transition to the weekly courses."

As far as I'm concerned, there should also be more shorter workshops, lasting three or four months, or even one-day courses. Instead of children having to commit to a club for a year. That's especially fitting for culture. Funding should be available for that. I even think it's justifiable that music or theater festivals should be covered for children whose parents can't afford them. Music or theater can profoundly change your life and trigger something that inspires you and introduces you to a different world.

Numbers not so important

Currently, Mark van der Jagt can be found at the Cruyff Court every week. "One week 15 children come, the next 150. I don't think numbers are that important. I'm all about reaching the children who need this. Who wouldn't otherwise have access to it. I do it for those children. Last year, for example, 25 children in Beverwijk went on to the Center for the Arts, with their tuition paid by the Youth Fund. That's fantastic, of course. That's why I'm there every week. To make that connection, to forge that connection. To see which children I can help. Those who are inspired by something. Those who would like to go further."

And if it's difficult to pay at home, I can contact the school or an intermediary. Sometimes that's quite difficult. Poverty is a taboo subject. It's not always easy to discuss. Is my question relevant? How do you bring up this topic? It can take some getting used to. The language and the method can also be a barrier. But I always try to engage in conversation. Because I keep reaching out and looking for ways to engage and hopefully inspire as many children as possible!

Culture@CruyffCourts Beverwijk Programme

Culture@CruyffCourts Heemskerk Programme

More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

The City Nomad Foundation in Maastricht is a grassroots A network of young people, skaters, entrepreneurs, and creators from all walks of life. The non-profit organization connects sports and culture by organizing all kinds of urban activities. all around skateboarding and for example Street art. Youth worker Mick Wiertz started Stadsnomade in 2018.

"Our society is changing rapidly," says Mick. "And it's primarily focused on performance and success. That creates a climate that not everyone thrives in. I'm a youth worker and I want to give all young people equal opportunities. That's why I started Stadsnomade, surrounded by an enthusiastic group of people from the very beginning. We also saw that the sports and cultural offerings in Maastricht are rather traditional, while more and more young people are looking for new forms of expression. We give them that opportunity. We don't just offer opportunities for practicing a variety of urban and street sports. We encourage independent, structured sports and exercise. Our focus is on the preventative effect of sports, youth participation, and personal and social development."

Positive impact

City Nomad literally moves through the city. The neighborhood sports and culture program De Karavaan connects with children in their own neighborhoods, the Skate Café operates in the evenings and at night, and the Skate School offers skating lessons for little ones as young as five. "Just because we don't have a permanent location doesn't mean we can't have an impact on the community," Mick has learned. "Maastricht is a small city with an international audience because of the university. Even those international students find a place with us. A permanent location does, of course, guarantee a wider reach. We're in talks with the municipality and discussing our plans, which have received support, but there's currently little funding. We want to sustainably anchor the positive impact we're making in the city."

Urban Sports Park

The dream is a new centrally located urban sports parkA connecting place where young and old can play, exercise, and connect. Urban sports and street art are hot. They offer young people perspective, connection, and personal development. That's the goal of Stadsnomade. Ultimately, society as a whole benefits from this.

Intermediary

Children and young people from low-income families can also join Stadsnomade. Mick even acts as an intermediary for the Youth Fund. "Lack of money shouldn't be a reason. If parents can't afford it, they can turn to the Youth Fund. It's so important that children and young people enjoy sports and culture while also connecting with their peers and other groups in society."

Culture@CruyffCourts Maastricht

Just like in 2020, Stadsnomade is once again involved this year as a provider in Cultuur@CruyffCourts in Maastricht. This project, through which the Youth Fund brings culture to the Cruyff Courts throughout the Netherlands, aligns perfectly with what we stand for,” says Mick. “Organizing accessible activities close to home. Many children from the neighborhood participated who otherwise wouldn't. We provided skateboards and protective equipment. There was a lot of interest in the workshops. And it's also great for us to connect with providers of other activities. Who knows, that might lead to new collaborations. It's wonderful to see something like this take hold in the city and to see the goal of getting vulnerable children involved is achieved.” Read more about Culture@CruyffCourts in Maastricht.

More information

• Become an intermediary!
• More about City nomad.

Roy van Schie is jongerenwerker bij het Welzijnskwartier in Katwijk. Roy is ook Cruyff Foundation Coach en betrokken bij het project Cultuur@CruyffCourts in Katwijk. ‘Ik wil jongeren het gevoel geven dat ze ertoe doen’.

Roy is al ruim 10 jaar jongerenwerker. Wat motiveert hem? “Ik heb toen ik jong was, zelf ook kansen gekregen via jongerenwerk. Ik zag wat er op straat speelde, ben een beetje door schade en schande wijs geworden. Via het jongerenwerk maakte ik kennis met DJ’en. Dat heeft mijn leven veranderd en me gemotiveerd om me nu in te zetten voor andere jongeren. Weet je, 80% van de jongeren komt wel op z’n pootjes terecht. Ik wil samen met mijn collega’s die andere 20% ook aan boord te houden.”

Aandacht

Roy werkt in wijken in Katwijk die meer aandacht nodig hebben. “Juist daar is ons werk het meest nodig,” vindt Roy. “Ik merk dat er vaak gekeken wordt naar wat jongeren niet kunnen, ik kijk liever samen naar wat iemand wel kan. Ik probeer iedere jongere waar ik mee werk het gevoel te geven dat hij of zijn ertoe doet. Via ons DJ project leren ze niet alleen dat het tof is om te draaien maar leren ze ook in het middelpunt van de belangstelling te staan, te presenteren en om te gaan met afspraken en druk. Ze leren dat ze zélf verantwoordelijkheid moeten nemen. Als je op je handen blijft zitten, gebeurt er niets.”

Lol online, eenzaamheid offline

Wat heeft Roy in die 12 jaar dat hij jongerenwerker is, zien veranderen. “Daar hoef ik niet lang over na te denken,” zegt Roy. “De smartphone heeft het leven van jongeren enorm veranderd. Aan de ene kant is het een verrijking waar we niet meer zonder kunnen. Wat ik ook zie is dat veel jongeren online het ogenschijnlijk goed hebben. Ze hebben veel contacten en volgers. Maar als je dan doorvraagt, blijkt dat sommigen in het echte leven bijvoorbeeld eenzaam zijn en dat het ook steeds ingewikkelder wordt om offline vriendschappen op te bouwen. Dat vind ik zorgelijk. Daarom zijn het soort projecten als mijn DJ project en Cultuur@CruyffCourts zo waardevol. Jongeren ontmoeten elkaar daar live. Een andere zorg is de verslavingsproblematiek. Er zijn heel veel middelen vrij gemakkelijk beschikbaar. Jongeren die hun leven onvoldoende inhoud kunnen geven, zijn gemakkelijke slachtoffers. ”

Wat vindt Roy van Culture@CruyffCourts? “Mooi. Fantastisch dat jullie dat doen! Het is een goede aanvulling op het programma van het Welzijnskwartier. Ik hoop natuurlijk dat kinderen en jongeren vervolgens doorgaan naar reguliere lessen en wij contact met hen blijven houden.”

Contact houden

De lockdown tijdens de coronacrisis maakte contact met de jongeren lastiger. Als we elkaar spreken dreigt de tweede lockdown. Hoe gaat Roy daarmee om? “Het is lastig,” zegt Roy. “Je komt elkaar minder vaak live tegen. Wij hebben daarom ons activiteitenaanbod in het begin van de coronacrisis zoveel mogelijk gedigitaliseerd en via sociale media live open Q&A gesprekken georganiseerd om zo in contact te blijven en te houden met jongeren. Daarnaast hebben we gelukkig ook veel jongeren nog fysiek en individueel kunnen zien en spreken. Contact houden is het allerbelangrijkste.”

Read more

• More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts
• Meer over het Welzijnskwartier Katwijk

                     

Cultuur@CruyffCourts laat kinderen in kansarmere wijken dichtbij huis, op de Cruyff Courts, kennismaken met dans, hiphop, DJ’en en andere gave activiteiten. Zo’n 20 gemeenten doen mee, maar door de coronacrisis zijn veel geplande projecten naar de herfst doorgeschoven. In Haarlem besloten ze het anders te doen. Dankzij een intensieve samenwerking met organisaties in de wijk, is er een mooi programma samengesteld voor kinderen die niet op vakantie gaan. Grace Dias, onze coördinator in Haarlem, vertelt.

“Vorig jaar hebben we Cultuur@CruyffCourts ook georganiseerd, met veel succes,” vertelt Grace, “Het grote verschil met dit jaar is corona. Kinderen gaan normaalgespoken tijdens de zomervakantie weg, onder andere naar het thuisland, maar dat kan dit jaar niet. Die kinderen zitten al te lang thuis, daarom is actief buiten bewegen nu belangrijk. We besloten het in de zomervakantie te doen en niet zoals het plan was, in het najaar. We wilden iets positiefs doen in een tijd die voor veel kinderen moeilijk is.”

Culture@CruyffCourts bleek niet de enige activiteit die voor de kinderen georganiseerd werd. “We nemen organisaties op het gebied van welzijn en sport in de wijk altijd mee in onze plannen. Toen bleek van alles van start te gaan vanuit dezelfde motivatie: kinderen iets positiefs bieden,” lacht Grace. “Er stond van alles op stapel. Wat is er dan logischer dan de krachten te bundelen? Cultuur@CruyffCourts is vervolgens ook opgenomen in het brede programma van in de wijk samenwerkende organisaties en aanbieders. Dankzij die samenwerking kunnen we meer kinderen bereiken.”

Goede docenten

Grace: “Het is goed als Cultuur@CruyfCourts vaker georganiseerd wordt. Dat komt de bekendheid van het programma ten goede en geeft kinderen de kans te ontdekken wat ze leuk vinden. Hun wereldje wordt wat groter. Daarom organiseren we het in het voorjaar van 2021 weer. We hebben ook geleerd dat het heel belangrijk is de juiste producent en docenten te vinden, mensen die goed met kinderen om kunnen gaan en plezier uitstralen. En er ook voor zorgen dat kinderen die verlegen aan de kant staan te kijken, mee gaan doen.”

Energy

Begin deze week ging Cultuur@CruyffCourts in het Haarlems Parkwijk van start. Gedurende vier weken kunnen kinderen allerlei workshop-reeksen volgen. Grace: “We zorgen voor muziek en ook het geluid van de bucket drums veroorzaakt reuring. Alles is buiten, dus dat trekt best aandacht, dat is zo leuk! Kinderen kunnen zes workshops volgen met urban culture activiteiten: breakdance, bucket drum, hiphop, freestyle voetbal en -basketbal, maar ook verhalentheater. De eerste week proberen kinderen uit wat ze leuk vinden, daarna zie je dat ze hun plek vinden. Vorig jaar zijn veel kinderen doorgestroomd naar reguliere lessen, dat is wat we willen natuurlijk. Het geeft de kinderen veel energie, maar ons ook.”

Op 14 augustus is de laatste workshop. Dan wordt Cultuur@CruyffCourts afgesloten in aanwezigheid van de wethouder Cultuur, Marie-Thérèse Meijs, en is er een spetterend optreden van freestyle voetbalheld en ambassadeur Nasser El Jackson!

Programma Cultuur@CruyffCourts Haarlem

Facebook-event Cultuur@CruyffCourts Haarlem

Website Cultuur@CruyffCourts

Het project Culture@CruyffCourts geeft kinderen de kans kennis te maken met allerlei stoere culturele activiteiten waar ze anders niet snel mee in aanraking komen. In Heerenveen waren er graffitiworkshops van Michel de Haan. Michel, artiestennaam Caer, ontdekte graffiti in de jaren ‘80 en is inmiddels een veelgevraagd graffiti street artist.  

Graffiti is niet meer weg te denken uit ons straatbeeld. In de jaren ‘80 vaak te vinden op plekken waar mensen minder blij van werden, maar tegenwoordig zijn er gedoogzones en is de kwaliteit van het werk – de pieces – veel hoger. Michel de Haan is professioneel graffitikunstenaar en geeft lessen, onder andere bij Culture@CruyffCourts. “Toen ik kennismaakte met graffiti, was het een grotestadsding dat geassocieerd werd met verpauperde wijken. Inmiddels is graffiti in heel Nederland verspreid en geaccepteerd. Het mooie aan graffiti is dat het democratisch is,” vindt Michel. “Je kunt je uiten, er je gevoel in leggen. Iedereen kan er zijn of haar eigen taal in ontwikkelen.” 

Spuitbustechnieken

Michel geeft veel workshops waarin hij kinderen en jongeren maar ook volwassenen spuitbustechnieken leert en ze kleurenkennis bijbrengt. “Dat doe ik overal. Bij bedrijven, gemeenten, sporthallen, voor jongeren op straat. Heel divers. Ik vind het heel gaaf om met jongeren om te gaan, dat houdt me jong,” lacht Michel die zelf tegen de 50 loopt. “Het mooie aan de workshops voor Culture@CruyffCourts in Heerenveen (2019) vond ik dat het toegankelijk was voor iedereen. Dat betekende dat er vrij veel kinderen uit minder bedeelde gezinnen mee konden doen. Kinderen die anders nooit zo’n workshop zouden volgen. Het enthousiasme was groot, ze konden echt iets van zichzelf laten zien, iets moois maken waar ze trots op konden zijn. Vaak zijn het vooral jongens die eropaf komen, maar in Heerenveen waren er ook veel meisjes.” 

Aandacht

“Het gaat niet alleen om graffiti, het gaat ook om aandacht geven,” zegt Michel. “Interesse tonen in wat de kinderen beweegt en wat ze naar de workshop brengt. Het is zo mooi en belangrijk om juist dit soort kinderen even op sleeptouw te nemen en te zorgen voor een positieve vibe. Kinderen komen zo weinig buiten, zitten veel te gamen en op hun telefoon of computer. De graffiti scene speelt zich buiten af. Ze ontmoeten er anderen, leren respect voor elkaar en elkaars werk op te brengen, normen en waarden. Dat is zo belangrijk voor hun ontwikkeling.”  

Bekijk alle deelnemende Cruyff Courts

Meer over het project Cultuur@CruyffCourts

September 27, 2019 was the Kick-Off of Cultuur@CruyffCourts at SO Lichtenbeek!

After a short interview with, among others, Alderman for Sports Jan van Dellen and Alderman for Culture Hans de Vroome, we were treated to a show by none other than Nasser El Jackson! Children from SO Lichtenbeek then enjoyed theater workshops with Marije Tangelder, drumming with Tudor Studio, circus with Circus Stoffel, and dance with Dans je Fit!

The children and visitors enjoyed this beautiful morning!

In the coming weeks, the children in Unit 8 and Unit 10 will have a theater, music, circus, or dance workshop every Friday. During school breaks, all children in SO Lichtenbeek can participate in a short dance or music workshop. The festive culmination of this project will be on November 1st.

More information: https://cultuurcruyffcourts.nl/

C@CC is an initiative of the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture and the Johan Cruyff Foundation: https://jeugdfondssportencultuur.nl/cultuurcruyffcourts/ https://www.cruyff-foundation.org/activiteiten/cruyff-courts/cultuur-cruyffcourts

The programme for the coming weeks on a big screen in the CruyffCourt.

Ciska with the aldermen for Sports and Culture

Nasser El Jackson

Circus Workshop

Dancing for everyone!

Jenneke Bos is a JOGG director and sports promotion officer for the municipality of Kampen. Her role is to encourage Kampen residents to become active or to stay active. Jenneke was involved in the realization of Cultuur@CruyffCourts, a collaboration between the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture and the Johan Cruyff Foundation, which organizes cultural and creative activities on Cruyff Courts in underprivileged neighborhoods.

"The opportunity to organize Cultuur@CruyffCourts was a real treat because it dovetailed perfectly with the Boomerang project that was already underway," says Jenneke. "That allowed us to get started quickly. The implementation was handled by Welzijn Kampen, and it went very well. I contributed to the process, and we were in regular contact. Welzijn Kampen believes it's important to connect with families they haven't yet contacted. They want to make it easier for parents to ask for help. The result of Cultuur@CruyffCourts was a vibrant Cruyff Court where parents and grandparents came to watch."

To link

Jenneke: “We focus on good contact and collaboration in the neighborhood. The goal was to collaborate with the school, cultural providers and sports clubs, and professionals. So, not on separate projects, but rather on linking activities. With Cultuur@CruyffCourts, all of that came together. It was visible; there were great activities in a familiar location close to home. This gave well-being the opportunity to build a bond with the children and establish a connection with the family. This allows us to better assess whether support is needed or whether existing support needs to be streamlined. We can only assess whether this has actually been achieved later. Measuring is knowing, but the direct effects are difficult to quantify. We do see that children who played a particular sport and stopped during puberty because they found other things more important, pick it up again as adults. This undoubtedly applies to cultural activities as well.”

Tips for other municipalities

"Focus on collaboration," says Jenneke. "Look locally at what's needed to optimize that collaboration. Cultuur@CruyffCourts is a great way to achieve that. Don't see it as a project to do fun things for children; look more broadly. Use it for structure, to build a network. This way, it contributes to getting to know each other and creating easy contact between professionals and families. A project like this is more than just introducing people to culture; it's also about building a close-knit neighborhood where everyone knows each other and collaborates."

More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

www.cultuurcruyffcourts.nl

Also read:
Councillor Irma van der Sloot: 'Sports and culture ensure prevention'

Social workers Michel and Juliëtte: 'A seed has been planted'