When I walk into Project House Madiba in Liendert Amersfoort, I notice that it is surprisingly large yet has a cozy living room feel. With seats, cabinets full of books, tables to eat together and space to play. A social center new style, one of the initiators Jana calls it. But what exactly does that mean? And what can you do at Madiba? I asked Jana all about it and discovered that it is actually too much to mention.
How Madiba came to be
After we take a seat at a table in the restaurant, Jana begins to talk energetically and enthusiastically about all that Madiba has to offer. And it soon becomes apparent that it is much more than the website suggests. But before we go into all the activities, I ask Jana why they founded Madiba.
Jana: "I myself was looking for a place in the neighborhood where I wanted to be. Where ideas can grow. So much comes back here and people feel good. That inspires to expand and grow even more. What more can we do? It feels good to mean something. Not cuddly volunteer work, but really running a business. Putting people in their power. Without hierarchy. Volunteers start somewhere and move on to the place that makes their heart beat faster. This they can then make better, expand and develop themselves. The freedom of having your own part and taking responsibility for it is important to me.
Concerned companies beware
The longer I listen to Jana, the more it touches me that there are still people who want to invest so much time and energy in others, society and thus the world. And also entirely on their own, without subsidies. Because thanks to the proceeds from the rental of meeting rooms and the restaurant, all social projects are subsidized themselves. Involved companies beware: are you still looking for meeting space Madiba has several available. Extra nice: to stimulate corporate social responsibility (CSR) there is a tax benefit.
Delicious organic food at Madiba
Madiba kitchen is highly recommended by the way. A nice place to eat together with your sweetheart, family or whole family. Tip from me; come taste the cous-cous! You can have lunch, dinner or a drink inside or outside. When the weather is nice, they fire up the barbecue. Also nice; the kitchen uses organic and as much as possible local products of the season. The meat comes from the Third Yard, many of the vegetables come from Vosbeek gardening, the coffee comes from coffee roaster Keikoffie and they serve organic drinks such as TUUR kombucha.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Proceeds from the restaurant and meeting rooms flow directly back into the community and are used for community projects. In addition to renting spaces, there are companies that make contributions in the form of materials, hours and donations. ZZP-ers are also actively involved in Madiba. In exchange for some space, for example, they arrange the website and come up with the menu design. But there has also been an exchange between a company that donated children's tools for handicraft classes for children in exchange for promo videos on their use. It is this bartering and win-win situation that energizes Jana.
Hooray for volunteers and interns
But none of this would be possible without the more than 75 volunteers and 20 interns who work at Madiba every day. Thanks to the nice atmosphere, room for ownership and responsibility, the most beautiful projects are realized. Here, the demand from the environment is addressed. What is needed? What is still missing? The whole neighborhood and all kinds of institutions are involved.
Jana: "We work from demand. People ask themselves; what can I contribute. Who do I know? And people also like to contribute.' For example, one VVE had old bicycles lying around and Madiba had a volunteer who likes to repair bicycles as a day care activity. He refurbished the bikes so they could last another round. Young people who live in residential groups can get these bikes and there are several interns who now have a station bike. After their internship, they turn it in and the bike can go to the next one.
Social and sustainable
But there are more collaborations. Ekoplaza donates their THT (best before date) products every week, and Madiba makes a meal out of this for the volunteers and serve people who are less fortunate. They come and have a nice meal while the children eat and play. Not only a great initiative socially, but also sustainable. There appeared to be a great need for a sewing class group, so that was established, and recently there has been a platform for homeschooling parents. Madiba offers various workshops for these children.
Clothing bank bursting at the seams
Perhaps the greatest success is the clothing bank, which is now bursting at the seams. Especially when the large clothing bank closed during the lockdown, Madiba was able to meet a need. Uniquely, even asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal remedies can pick up clothes. The homeless also find their way to the clothing bank. Everyone is welcome, Jana emphasizes. Asylum seekers often include mothers who come by for clothes for themselves and their children. Meanwhile, they eat there and have a chat while the children play. A great way to practice the language and meet others. Madiba also receives strollers that they pass on to families on a tight budget. Do you have something lying around? Donate it to Madiba to make sure it gets to where it needs to be.
Free homework help
Children can also receive homework help at Madiba, which is incredibly beneficial for language development. This guidance is also completely free of charge. Over 100 children have already received tutoring and have improved by leaps and bounds. For students from large families, where the home is busy, there are quiet areas where they can work quietly. There are people present to quiz children and help them learn to plan. To optimize this even further, there is cooperation with schools in the area. Madiba is truly the heart of Liendert.
The Madiba Bus
The examples Jana gives are fantastic and show that when people know how to find each other, wonderful things are created. For example, Madiba was recently donated a wheelchair bus that they are going to refurbish. With this, the elderly, people in wheelchairs, but also children can be picked up to go to Madiba, to an outing or appointment. After the summer, the Madiba bus will be put into use.
Committed people wanted
Does Madiba's vision appeal to you? Do you have a company that wants to do more in the area of corporate social responsibility? Do you know of local initiatives that are appropriate? Are you a farmer or gardener and would like to collaborate? Do you have cool tips or would you like to get involved for others? Feel free to walk in.