On May 12, the International Yale Day of Service, the Yale Club of the Netherlands will be volunteering to help “Uit Je Eigen Stad” start up its first site in Rotterdam, just in time for their first “pre-event” on May 15.
Uit Je Eigen Stad (From Your Own City), is an innovative urban agriculture project using desolate urban areas for small-scale and local agricultural production. They use flexible, modular, scalable and duplicable production systems to produce vegetables, fruit, fish and chicken to be sold in an on-site shop and restaurant as well as to local shops and restaurants. The farming areas will also be gathering places for the community, serving as a focal point for the redevelopment of these neighborhoods. For more information (in Dutch) see: http://www.uitjeeigenstad.nl/
At the Rotterdam site, the soil is there, the old building is there, and the greenhouse has been built and they have been planting and sowing. But they can use some help from us. Some of this help is typical garden and renovation work such as planting, sowing, cleaning and painting walls, but they also have some other needs that may benefit from our alumni’s expertise in various areas. Some specific areas that they have specified are:
- Designing a summer terrace for the restaurant
- Graphic design to incorporate sponsor logos so they are visible but not overwhelming
- Translation of the website
- Design of a digital planning system for events
- International marketing advice and networking – they have been approached by Belgian and German media and would like to generate international attention for their full launch in September
However, there may be other opportunities for alumni with specialized expertise that have not been identified, so if there is something else (or several something elses) that you can do that you think may be of benefit to Uit Je Eigen Stad, let me know what it is when you sign up and we will see if there is indeed a need. One note: There is no internet access or desk on site at the moment so we will need to bring any needed computer equipment/dongles. I will have a couple of extra tables in the van.
The day starts at 10 am, and lunch will be provided. There is enough work to do inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Let me know quickly (email harmony@yaleclub.nl or sign up on the YDOS site: http://www.yaledayofservice.org/node/1029) to reserve a spot helping on the day – they can only accommodate a maximum of 15 helpers at one time. All alumni and partners/family are welcome to come and help. Let me know if you would like to offer your labor and/or your expertise, and what that expertise is.
Location: Marconistraat 37, 3029 AG Rotterdam
How to get there:
By car: The site is fairly close to Exit 12 from the A20 on the west side of Rotterdam (near the junction with A13).
Carpooling: Let me know when you sign up if you need a ride or can give one, and from where.
By public transit: From Rotterdam Central or Schiedam Centrum: take trams 21 or 23 to tram stop Het Witte Dorp – it’s a 2-minute walk from there. Or take the metro to Marconiplein – it’s a 10-minute walk from there.
Let me know if you need more detailed directions or have any questions.
I look forward to seeing you on May 12!
Harmony Folz, ’92