An initiative has been made to set up community/activity centre called The Hungry Mind in the Loosduinen/Kijkduin area.

Foundation 'The Hungry Mind'
The initiators of community centre The Hungry Mind, believe that more has to be done to promote integration and communication between the fast growing international community and the existing local community in this area.
Foundation The Hungry Mind was set up for this purpose. Hungry for knowledge and information. Eager to meet each other, then talk together. Through this, understanding and respect grows for other cultures.
This is the idea behind The Hungry Mind.

The Location
Three years ago, initiated by the municipality of The Hague, an international  school was build, between Loosduinen and Kijkduin. The International School of The Hague (ISH) has around 1200 students between the ages of 4 and 18. The children are educated in English, with Dutch as a compulsory second language. In the Ockenburgh Sportspark, just behind the school is the place where the community centre will be situated.

Building a Bridge
Building on the municipal initiative: De Haagse Brug naar Loosduinen, the foundation wants to build a strong bridge between the growing international community and the existing local community in the area around Loosduinen/ Kijkduin. With this idea, they want to set up a meeting place with a very low threshold, where a wide variety of people from all around, can meet each other. Petra Brekelmans took the initiative and formed a group of enthusiastic people around her to start the project. The initiative is supported by e.g.: the municipality of The Hague, the Oranje Fonds, Fonds 1818, Boschuysen Foundation, the management of the International School of The Hague (ISH) and football club H.S. Texas.

Complementing and Reinforcing
Community centre The Hungry Mind is situated amongst existing sports facilities. There are a number of football fields. The different clubs own their individual clubhouses and changing rooms. Just behind the new school you will find the facilities of football club H.S.Texas. The football club, like many others, is suffering from declining member numbers. They are struggling to pay their bills. At the moment the club uses the facility only 2 evenings a week and on a Sunday afternoon for league matches. The rest of the time it is not being used. The plan is to turn the canteen and changing rooms into a multi-functional centre. After the refurbishments the centre will be used as a meeting place and activity centre. Open to all and open all day!

H.S.Texas Clubhouse
By sharing the cost of the clubhouse, H.S.Texas will be able to maintain their clubhouse. This place will make a lot of cross-fertilization possible between the users. E.g.: People who live in the area, young and old(er), sporty people, students and their parents and of all different nationalities and backgrounds. The attraction of new visitors to the community centre may also lead to new members of H.S. Texas.

Community centre The Hungry Mind
The goal is to change the existing clubhouse and changing rooms into a multi functional meeting and activity centre, at low cost and with a lot of community power. The stress is on the words: to meet. The Hungry Mind will have nice terraces for summer days. Due to the great location at sportpark Ockenburgh and close to the school, it will be very easy and safe for everyone to find the way to the community centre. During school days it will be a meeting place for all. It will be possible to e.g. attend courses, listen to lectures, attend sports classes, read a paper in the library and enjoy a cup of coffee. Of course you can pop in at the cafe at any time too. The Foundation The Hungry Mind wants to create an accessible meeting place for all. Here the international and local communities can meet each other. With this initiative we hope to enhance relationships between different cultures and build a strong bridge.
 

We want to bring people together, by organizing a wide variety of activities in the field of: sports, culture, music and information. We will offer a great selection of courses like Dutch and English, cooking, flower arranging, computer skills etc. The Foundation ‘The Hungry Mind’ wants to adjust the buildings, so it will be suitable for day time activities, after school care and study club.

How do we want to make The Hungry Mind visible?
With a limited budget, we want to change the inside and outside, into a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere with a low threshold. A safe and cozy place surrounded by trees and sports facilities, where people can meet. The outside of the canteen and changing rooms will change color. The masonry will be painted in a light shade and the woodwork will be painted in a dark color. On the sunny side, alongside the football field, we want to build benches made of wood.
 

On the north side, we want to paint lines on the existing tiles, so children can play sports in a safe and fenced off area. The library corner is a place with a quiet atmosphere and has its own identity and color. Behind the bookcases on wheels, we will find the coffee and juice counter. Small snacks will also available at affordable prices.The canteen has to be made multi functional too. There will be a stage for different performances and lectures, a library/reading corner
with a foldable bookcase, which can serve as a room divider. By folding, closing and locking the bookcase we can keep things safe, e.g. when the clubhouse is being used by the football club. All existing furniture will be painted in a grey color. The floor, the walls and ceiling will be painted in a fresh color. The bar, computer unit and reading corner will be refreshed with wood paneling.
 

In the clubhouse we will make a diving wall to make the room multi usable for different (age) groups. The wall behind the stage will be decorated with a huge photo of de dunes. The stage itself will be painted and poufs and curtains will be added to the decor. An upgrade of the sound and light system is needed. The stage can be used by different groups, throughout the day. At the entrance a cloakroom will be made for adults and children. The toilets will be upgraded and made suitable for the youngest ones.

Variety of courses and lessons
The meeting room can be used as a playroom for (mothers and) toddlers or for sports and cookery lessons. Foldable tables will be put in. One wall will be a mirrored wall and another wall will turn into a blackboard wall. Through these alterations this room will also be made suitable for multi-functional use.

The changing rooms can be used in many different ways too. On the football field side large windows will be created. These will be closable from the inside with shutters. By making these alterations, the changing rooms can be used as classrooms. Under floor heating and toilets are in place already. By creating a blackboard wall and an anchored storage unit, these changing room units will turn into very usable rooms. By putting in foldable tables, the room can get a different identity very quickly.

Funds for a win-win situation
By re-vamping H.S.Texas’ facilities and making it suitable for multi functional use, we create an attractive meeting place. As you can read, this plan has mainly advantages. The football club will have more breathing space and will possibly have more new members joining. The Hungry Mind offers a great chance for people to meet in a very friendly environment. We shall offer activities for all: young and old(er), sporty and creative, for thinkers and do-ers etc.
After refurbishing, the facilities can be used very intensively. By aiming at multi functionality, activities can be expanded unlimited.

Packing bags at Albert Heijn in Loosduinen
On Friday 5 February last, as one of our fundraising events, 7 students of the ISHoffered their services to Albert Heijn shoppers in Loosduinen. Students packed groceries for customers and Albert Heijn donated free bags during the action. On top of that Albert Heijn donated cookies, which will be used for another fundraiser at ISH. On 12 Februari ISH students sell roses and cookies. The money raised goes to Haiti. Michel Rogier CDA, thought this was a great opportunity for CDA to show how important community cohesion is and helped us pack!

With this article, we hope to have inspired you to invest in this dynamic initiative! Your financial support is essential and will have a positive impulse on the community.
 

Would you like to support this project, or sponsor The Hungry Mind foundation?
Please contact us via:
telephone: 06-30494880
e-mail: thehungrymindcentre@gmail.com

Contact details of The Hungry Mind foundation
Contact: Petra Brekelmans
Telephone number: 070-4040484 or 06-30494880
KvK in The Hague 27367547
Website: www.thehungrymind.nl
 

If you wish to comment or express an opinion about this article please e-mail the editor@TheHagueOnLine.com