Carmen Verduyn x Bildung Academy x Gemeente Eindhoven: Stadsmakers International
We arrive with suitcases full of vowels and pockets filled with
"excuse me, I'm new here, I think I might be lost?"
Scouting around maps that don't show beloning, only streets.
Thankfully Eindhoven doesn't ask for perfect Dutch,
From the centre's rhythm called SPOOOD
It's the same in Gestel,
And yeah, life happens, Code Red,
And in Tonglre?
Thankfully Eindhoven doesn't ask for perfect Dutch,
we live in the type of city only asks, "Will you show up?"
"Will you commit to make somthing with us?"
Thats why 'StadsMakers' isn't a title or just a project name,
it's a verb, a heartbeat,
a bunch of strangers turning into "see you next week friend!"
From the centre's rhythm called SPOOOD
where food and sports are combined as a handshake,
the place where sweat meets spice,
and eventhough you cannot lean on the table tennis top,
you can lean on the SPOOOD community
to provide connection trough competition,
It's the same in Gestel,
more then 100 sign-ups from neighboors
who would like to join on the plat date day,
to be a kid again.
No networking, no integrating, no pressure,
just playing all together,
rules explained with one look,
the move of an eyebrow,
hands pointing and lots of laughter.
Cause thats the first language any of us
learn to understand - building relationships
through joy and laughter.
And yeah, life happens, Code Red,
eventhough the scedual might have moved,
damn sure the spirit of the event and volunteers isn't cancelled.
It just regrouped, added a whatsapp community,
because building the community is exactly what you do
once the flyer fades...
And in Tonglre?
Out there is a table that refuses to stay silent or still,
she rolls trough the neighboorhood,
got swapped for Orca this first edition,
it did embody the kind of magic only realism can provide.
That a pancake no matter where it's served
stays a pancake but get richer
with international flavours and neighboors.
The question they asked participants
"what would you like to build?"
got answered by The Colors Of Woensel group.
An inclusive art event,
where the borders fade,
painting becomes a meeting point.
All ages, all backgrounds, all nationalities—
hands holding brushes like passports made of pigment.
A painting workshop, a shared afternoon,
Because inclusion isn’t a location.
It’s a decision.
It’s: “Come in. There’s space.”
So if you’re international,
All ages, all backgrounds, all nationalities—
hands holding brushes like passports made of pigment.
A painting workshop, a shared afternoon,
Because inclusion isn’t a location.
It’s a decision.
It’s: “Come in. There’s space.”
So if you’re international,
if you’re new,
if you’re tired of being “the new person,”
hear me out:
Eindhoven is not only tech and towers.
if you’re tired of being “the new person,”
hear me out:
Eindhoven is not only tech and towers.
It’s tables out everywhere.
It’s parks in every neighboorhood.
It’s painting together.
It’s pancakes in Orca.
It’s sport and food,
and the soft rebellion of showing up.
Stadsmakers means:
we don’t wait until we feel at home.
We build it.
Together.
One recurring afternoon at a time.
One rescheduled play day at a time.
One moving dinner table at a time.
One brushstroke at a time.
And maybe that’s the point—
not to fit in,
but to make a city big enough
to hold all our accents,
It’s parks in every neighboorhood.
It’s painting together.
It’s pancakes in Orca.
It’s sport and food,
and the soft rebellion of showing up.
Stadsmakers means:
we don’t wait until we feel at home.
We build it.
Together.
One recurring afternoon at a time.
One rescheduled play day at a time.
One moving dinner table at a time.
One brushstroke at a time.
And maybe that’s the point—
not to fit in,
but to make a city big enough
to hold all our accents,
and celebrate each and everyone of them.
Comments