{"id":124588,"date":"2021-03-23T15:27:38","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T14:27:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=124588"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:30","slug":"coronavirus-science-many-more-people-are-falling-between-the-cracks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2021\/03\/23\/coronavirus-science-many-more-people-are-falling-between-the-cracks\/","title":{"rendered":"Corona science: ‘Many more people are falling between the cracks’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The coronavirus has resulted in all kinds of initiatives being established in Rotterdam to help fellow residents get through the crisis. Beitske Boonstra, post-doctoral researcher at Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB), is investigating these initiatives and how the municipality can support these. \u201cThis research is my way of contributing.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Why research these initiatives?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThese initiatives are making such a valuable contribution to the city. They are established really quickly, are flexible and focus immediately on those areas with the greatest need. They are also not hindered by formal structures. Initiatives channel the city\u2019s enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of residents who want to do their bit. At the same time, the initiatives have highlighted needs that were invisible until now. Although Rotterdam has an infrastructure for people who get left behind, there are still huge numbers of people who don\u2019t quite fall into this category but are still falling between the cracks. And the space between those cracks has become much bigger during the crisis. Many people just about manage in normal times, but during the crisis they can\u2019t cope. They\u2019re not able to use foodbanks, as a formal procedure is needed for this, which is why informal initiatives are fantastic safety nets.\u201d<\/p>\n

What special initiatives did you come across?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all the Indian Place hairdresser, which transformed into a foodbank. They set up the whole thing themselves and have now established their own foundation: Geronimo. The Villa Vonk initiative in Hoogvliet is another example. This was a community centre that delivered home meals to older people. After a while, the delivery drivers discovered that the added value was not only in the meals, but that someone visited the older people twice a week. It gives older people a chance to dress nicely and enjoy a chat. The community centre has now obtained new funding for this. Public Works is another initiative I really like. There were so many advertisement posters everywhere in the city about events that were no longer taking place. The initiator established an outdoor exhibition so hundreds of artists could replace these posters with their own art. This generated a huge sense of positivity in public spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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