EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Multi-ethnic residents’ participation in Schilderswijk

Multi-ethnic residents’ participation in Schilderswijk - The Hague, the Netherlands

Introduction

Since 1 January 2001, an experiment has been running in the City of The Hague: Pilot Bewonersparticipatie Schilderswijk (Schilderswijk Residents’ Participation Pilot).

Description

This pilot aims to stimulate optimum multi-ethnic resident participation with an eye on promoting community building. In what way does the Residents’ Participation Pilot unfold, and in what way are the residents from the various target groups associated with this? How do those involved regard (the stimulation of) residents’ participation in Schilderswijk?

Conclusions

The pilot was not a resounding success; there were 'fine intentions and high ambitions'. Although some successes were achieved, the results did not for the most part live up to expectations. The experiment appeared to be a process of trial and error.

Moving the community to take action depends on three factors:

Support for the idea that the action is actually needed;
Politicians and professionals are engaged in the right way;
A social movement in the district that one can join.

The third factor appears to be the key factor in the case of Schilderswijk.
Bridging (the bridging of gaps between ethnic groups) fell short in terms of bonding, i.e. the establishment of relationships within one’s own group. The latter is not self-evident.
Extra attention should be spent on the 'pioneers' who play an important example role and who could have a magnetic effect.
"Optimum, multi-ethnic residents’ participation with an eye on promoting community development by realising multiple, open and intercultural networks" is not realistic after three years.
The neighbourhood meeting points are meant to be crystallization points of multi-ethnic residents’ participation. In the field of the participation-promoting activities beyond the neighbourhood meeting points, some progress has been achieved. The neighbourhood meeting point is little known in the district, partly because of weak communication.
The community development project has invested a lot of energy into the development of new relationships with residents (outside the old residents’ organisations). One has reached one thousand people.
Other achievements that were often associated with the pilot relate to the prevention projects in the Schilderswijk: the Moroccan neighbourhood fathers and prevention at night, prevention on the square and neighbourhood intervention teams.

Contact info

University of Tilburg, Public Administration Department
F. Hendriks

Publication date

01/06/2003

Researcher

Frank Hendriks, Stijn Valgaeren, Bram Foederer & co.

Links

University of Tilburg, Public Administration Department

Multi-ethnic residents’ participation in Schilderswijk (PDF, Dut, 370 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation