Stee in Stad – Capacity Building and Tourism in a deprived neighbourhood
Three houses in the Dutch neighbourhood ‘Korrewegwijk’ in Groningen have been transformed into temporary bed-and-breakfasts. This area is one of the Vogelaarwijken (deprived areas in the Netherlands), and Stee-in-Stad (which literally means ‘a bed in Groningen’) contributes to positive developments in the neighbourhood. Local artists and inhabitants have jointly decorated the nine rooms in these houses. In addition, day-to-day management of the facility is in the hands of persons with a low employability who can gain crucial working experience by working there.
Description
The concept of Stee in Stad has been inspired by a similar project that has been implemented in The Hague, Hotel Transvaal. In that context, a group of artists developed temporary hotel rooms in houses that were going to be demolished. Now that these houses in The Hague have been knocked down, the concept lives on in Stee in Stad in Groningen: in April 2010 this special Bed-and-Breakfast first opened its doors.
Stee in Stad is situated in the Korrewegwijk in Groningen, in
the New-Indian neighbourhood in North-Groningen. Many people with
relatively low incomes live in this area. This project creates
liveliness in the area by attracting tourism, and it generates job
opportunities for persons whose skills and knowledge do not respond
to the demands of the labour market.
Approach
Stee in Stad is an initiative of five social organisations that
cooperate -each from their own perspective- to improve living in
the neighbourhoods of Groningen. A housing corporation, a college
for vocational training, Women’s Centre Jasmijn, the municipality
and Werkpro (an organisation mediating in social work) are working
together in the context of Stee-in-Stad.
Housing corporation Lefier has provided the temporary housing for
the project, while the college takes care of training and registers
the practical qualifications the students acquire at Stee in Stad.
All persons active in the bed-and-breakfast are either students, or
adults following a specific track towards re-employment.
Results
The project currently is in full swing, and is being advertised
on the internet and through the local tourism information.
Publication Date
April 2010
Document Type
Practice document
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