Arnhem Community Innovation Lab

About the Arnhem Community Innovation Labs 2018-2019

In Arnhem, students participated in three community projects, each with its own objectives and outcomes. On July 14, 2019 the students presented their ideas from the projects at the business fair at VHL together with students from other studies such as Food Technology, International Development Management and Agribusiness. All the students worked on business plans Sustainable Entrepreneurship. The students' ideas were judged by a professional jury, who decided which students had the most sustainable business idea, and a group won the prize of €250 for the best market opportunities (powered by the Rabobank).

Community 1: Circularity in the Van Hall Larenstein Community in Velp 2018-2019

Objective: To lower the resource footprint of the HVHL community on the Larenstein Estate and its immediate surroundings and save money

Partners: HVHL services, HVHL students and staff as users, Peeze coffee burners, neighbourhood members, Renuwi-waste services, Student Green Office, entrepreneurs, 2nd year students Management of the Environment

Activities: Waste-Audit, co-creation sessions with stakeholders, student and associate professorship projects on Vermiculture, water, agriculture

Chances and challenges of the university-community collaboration: Well-established groups, some empowerment from the top-down levels is required

Potentials of the university-community collaboration: Seems feasible, economic perspective, provides social learning

Outcomes of Community 1

• Waste reduction was achieved to the desired goal
• Waste reduction awareness was raised in the Larenstein community
• The student group developed a business plan for a social enterprise around a 1 hectare FoodForest on the Larenstein estate
• The aim of the social enterprise is education, plus FoodForest operation and awareness
• The business plan has not resulted in a company, but there will be a FoodForest starting 10th of October 2019
• FoodForest is an educational and research project for all the departments of VHL, plus for citizens and businesses around the community: The food forest will be opened 10 October 2019 (see picture)

In 2019, the students will go further, exploring all the opportunities of the Larenstein Estate. One of the goals is to open the FoodForest and do research.

Contact: Daan van der Linde or Freddy van Dijken

Community 2: BlueNeighbourhoodEconomy Project Spijkerkwartier 2018-2019

BlueNeighbourhoodEconomy (DeBlauweWijkEconomie)

Objective: To establish a cost-efficient Green Landscaping Workforce in the Spijkerkwartier neighbourhood in Arnhem based on the local community

Partners: BlueNeighbourhoodEconomy organisation, Patrick Hoogenbosch, Municipality of Arnhem, GreenArnhem Network, neighbourhood members, entrepreneurs, 2nd year students in the Management of the Environment program

Activities: Entrepreneurship analysis for the NeighborhoodGreenCompany (BuurtGroenBedrijf) run by community members, WormHotel development (including realisation)

Chances and challenges of the university-community collaboration: Well-established group, there is a collaboration agreement

Potentials of the university-community collaboration: Seems feasible, economic perspective, provides social learning

More about Community 2

• DeBlauweWijkEconomie is an initiative for and by residents in the Spijkerkwartier area in Arnhem. From our passion for sustainable and living through sustainability, we created an environment with a greater sense of well-being, solidarity and an eye for nature. DeBlauweWijkEconomie achieves this by training and coaching residents to discover and follow their dreams using social entrepreneurship. In the Spijkerkwartier, you live your passion.
• DeBlauweWijkEconomie aims to develop collaborative ideas in our neighbourhood, turning these ideas into opportunities for our community by using existing resources, government entities, institutions of learning and companies. Together we can work towards our goal of establishing social entrepreneurships. Small is the new big. It is surprising how much already exists in the neighbourhood which can be used towards creating new opportunities. Forming connections, creating added value and getting action-oriented – together!
• Perhaps you have an idea for a project in our neighbourhood, your own company or a dream to make the world a bit more beautiful. How do you start? Imagine working out these ideas with other individuals. This is an opportunity to get inspired by the passion of others, use everyone's talents and learn from one another. Companies in and around Arnhem, educational institutions and the municipality of Arnhem would like to be a part of making these ideas a success. Synergy optima forma! Dream jobs are created more often than found.
• NeighbourhoodGreenCompany For four years, the green maintenance company, Spijkergroen, has been operating in the Spijkerkwartier from the DeBlauweWijkEconomie project. A number of previously unemployed local residents with a passion for green and community well-being started this company in 2015. Since the BuurtGroenBedrijf has been managing the green areas and keeping the district clean, the district has undergone an incredible change in appearance. In addition to cleaner streets, better maintained trees, and shrubs and grass in the public areas, new green areas have also been planted in several places. For example, vertical gardens, fruit trees and smaller city gardens where herbs and vegetables are grown are now placed in several places through working with members of the neighbourhood. This was all part of the dream that a man named Marco wrote about in 2015. Wouldn’t it be great if this were to happen? A greener and cleaner neighbourhood, maintained by the local residents themselves is a great example of the possibilities that can grow out of the DeBlauweWijkEconomie. The plan is to set up the BuurtGroenBedrijf as a social enterprise where ecological and social values are the highest priorities.

Outcomes of Community 2

• Worm-bins promotion in the neighbourhoud was researched and initiated: production of worm-tea for use in private and community gardens
• A social enterprise as part of the existing Buurtgroenbedrijf was not succesfully established
• This fall a new group is studying the Energy Transition in Spijkerbuurt by means of a narrative analysis method. They will do research on the willingness to change energy sources like solar power instead of gas. The VHL UAS group will cooperate with HAN UAS Social Work students. They are working in a living lab DAZO in the neighbourhood.

In 2019 we will go further with students in their third year in Spijkerkwartier. We will assist the community with the energy transition working with students and teachers from the University of Applied Sciences Arnhem en Nijmegen and the University of Arts Artez in a learning community together with the Gemeente Arnhem (municipality).

Contact: Freddy van Dijken

Community 3: Sonsbeek-Park Community Project 2018-2019

Objective: to enhance entrepreneurial thinking within the Friends of Sonsbeek-park community with regard to event organisation and environmental issues

Partners: Friends of Sonsbeek-park organisation , Municipality of Arnhem, GreenArnhem Network , neighbourhood members, entrepreneurs, 2nd year students in the Management of the Environment program

Activities: Entrepreneurship analysis for the event portfolio in the park, advice on what should and should not be done concerning events in the park and environmental projects on water retention and climate change

Chances and challenges of the university-community collaboration: Well-established group, needs some empowerment from the municipality

Potentials of the university-community collaboration: Seems feasible, economic perspective, social learning

Outcomes of Community 3

• A social enterprise for maintenance, surveillance and work-placement for jobless people was described, but not established.
• The proposed ideas were welcomed in the Friends of SonsbeekPark Community, but they need further elaboration next year.
• The social enterprise was located in and around Molenplaats visitor centre, but the economic basis was not sound enough to sustain the proposed activities.

Contact: Daan van der Linde

About the Arnhem Community Innovation Labs 2019-2020

In Arnhem, students participated in three community projects, each with its own objectives and outcomes. On June 19th 2020 the business fair was held and the students did an outstanding job in pitching their ideas. The students presented their ideas from the projects at a online business fair (https://www.hvhl.nl/business-fair#/ ) together with students from other studies such as Food Technology, International Development Management and Agribusiness. All the students worked on business plans Sustainable Entrepreneurship. The students' ideas were judged by a professional jury, who decided which students had the most sustainable business idea, and a group won the prize of €250 for the best market opportunities (powered by the Rabobank).

Community 1: Spijkerbikes Project Spijkerkwartier 2019-2020

Objective: Partners: BlueNeighbourhoodEconomy organisation, Patrick Hoogenbosch, Municipality of Arnhem, neighbourhood members, entrepreneurs, 2nd year students in the Management of the Environment program

Activities: Entrepreneurship analysis for the Spijkerbikes, run by community members

Chances and challenges of the university-community collaboration: Well-established group, there is a collaboration agreement

Potentials of the university-community collaboration: Seems feasible, economic perspective, provides social learning

More about Community 1

About spijkerbikes

Spijkerbikes is a social-enterprise that focuses on repairing, selling or renting straybicycles which are taken of the street. Straybicycles have always been a thorn in the eye of many residents of the neighbourhood Spijkerkwartier (Arnhem). They contribute to the image that a neighbourhood is in decline. The result of this is that the entire appearance of the neighbourhood suffers from decline. Spijkerbikes repairs these bicycles and sells or rents them.

Bicycles repaired at Spijkerbikes have a unique characteristic that makes it a Spijkerbike. This makes that Spijkerbikes has an image of its own. Anyone riding on a bicycle bought at Spijkerbikes, can be easily recognized though their bicycle.

Next to removing, repairing, selling used bicycles, Spijkerbikes aims to help people on a social level. People who stand in a distance to the labor market or from other nationalities who have difficulty finding paid work. Spijkerbikes offers these people a job which they can gain experience. Their gained experience leads to better chances for finding suitable work.

In short, Spijkerbikes is a social enterprise that aims to contribute to society in the form of cleaner streets, affordable transport with an own image and providing people in need with work.

More information: Facebook Spijkerbikes

Outcomes of Community 1

Product description

The bicycles from Spijkerbikes will have a unique image. The exact idea for this own image has not been decided on yet. As of right now there is the choice between yellow front tires or yellow mud guards. Either option will make for a signature characteristic that makes the bicycles instantly recognisable.

More information and a presentation, you can find on: Spijkerbikes

In 2020 we will go further with students in their third year in Spijkerkwartier. We will assist the community with the energy transition working with students and teachers from the University of Applied Sciences Arnhem en Nijmegen and the University of Arts Artez in a learning community together with the Gemeente Arnhem (municipality).

Meet the Team

Our team has worked out the business plan of Spijkerbikes. This team has four people who worked on the rapport. You see the four people in the groups photo. At the top left you see Christel Moerkerk, she is responsible for the activities off Spijkerbikes and the promotion. At the bottom left there is Maarten Fokma he worked on the chances and opportunities and the stakeholders. On the top right is Roy Sanders he describes the financial plan and the management plan. And as last we have Martha Bos on the bottom right, she describes the marketing and sales and the impact on the community.

Contact: Freddy van Dijken

Community 2: Greening the City Arnhem 2019-2020

Objective:

Partners: Municipality of Arnhem, Arnhem Klimaatbestendig https://www.arnhemklimaatbestendig.nl/ , Sight landscaping https://www.sightlandscaping.nl/, neighbourhood members, local entrepreneurs, 2nd year students Management of the Environment

Activities:

Chances and challenges of the university-community collaboration: Well-established groups, some empowerment from the top-down levels is required

Potentials of the university-community collaboration: Seems feasible, economic perspective, provides social learning

More about Community 2

Vision We want to make the city centre of Arnhem flourish with greenery. To do so we need to create more green spots in the streets. These green spots will be owned and maintained by the locals. With the help of the locals the city will look better and can enjoy the benefits of green. Like less heat stress, biodiversity and a place for locals to meet. And by doing so a green community will be created which will improve the social connections of the locals. Not only the locals will benefit but entrepreneurs and the municipality as well. A beautiful scenery will attract more customers to their business and for the municipality maintenance cost are reduced and contentment of inhabitants improved.

SDG’s The green community also supports two sustainable development goals. It supports goal number 8 Decent work and economic growth because: We will provide an equal opportunity for work with greenery in the inner city. This means that all members of the society are included, creating an even greater opportunity for people with disabilities. And goal 11 sustainable cities and communities because: Creating new green spaces will have a positive influence on the environmental impact of the city.

Outcomes of Community 2

Product description

The product we offer with the greening community is a membership for the residents of the centre of Arnhem. By paying monthly contributions the residents can make use of green spaces, materials, education and social activities. In this way we receive our income and the residents can join a social group.

More information and a presentation, you can find on: https://www.hvhl.nl/business-fair/tweedejaars/greening

Meet the team

Job Lassche: Is working on getting a degree in “management of the living environment”. I understand how to communicate with inhabitants of an area. This is helpful for setting up a community in Arnhem.

Cato Pos: Has a propaedeutic certificate in “management of the living environment” at Van Hall Larenstein. Therefore, she has experience with communication, greening, planning, policy and arrangement of public spaces.

Louise van Stam: Studying “management of the living enviroment" has giving skills and experience in many areas like communication,planning public space, tackling climate change.

Xander Ras: Studying management of the living environment at van Hall Larenstein. Here we get taught to create a bridge between the people and the city.

Contact: Daan van der Linde

Community 3: Food Market Larenstein 2019-2020

Objective:

Partners: HVHL services, HVHL students and staff as users, Neighbourhood members, Student Green Office, entrepreneurs, 2nd year students Management of the Environment

Activities:

Chances and challenges of the university-community collaboration: Well-established groups, some empowerment from the top-down levels is required

Potentials of the university-community collaboration: Seems feasible, economic perspective, provides social learning

More about Community 3

About Food Forest

The first trees for the food forest on the estate of Van Hall Larenstein were planted last year. We’re all familiar with the concept of forests. Forests exist fine on their own. There’s no mowing, spraying or digging required. No pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides or nasty chemicals.

Now, imagine if everything in this lush, abundant, spectacular forest was edible!

If you can picture this in your mind, maybe you are not far from the mark of how Food Forest Larenstein will look like in a couple of years.

By understanding how forests grow and sustain themselves without human intervention, we can learn from nature, copy the system and patterns to model our own forest, once filled with trees and plants that produce food we can eat. We can design and construct the most sustainable food production system possible.

There is a barrier between the estate and the neighbourhood outside the estate. Research showed that most of the people who live outside the estate didn’t know they could go take a visit. It’s a shame if only the people who work and study at the schools on the estate can enjoy the beauty of it. That’s what we are going to fix.

Outcomes of Community 3

Product description

The service we developed is a recurring food market event that will not only be available for staff and students, but for everybody who is interested, with the focus on the neighbourhood around the estate. People can buy local food while learning about the value of a community.

More information and a presentation, you can find on: https://www.hvhl.nl/business-fair/tweedejaars/food-forest

Meet the team

Sietske de Boer:

Sietske de Boer is twenty years of age and has chosen for the study ‘Management of the Living Environment’ because she loves interacting with people. She also loves nature and is willing to spread this enthusiasm through her open attitude.

Marieke van Zwoll:

Marieke van Zwoll is currently in her second year of Management of the Living Environment. After attending art school as a painter she decided to look for a degree programme in which she could use her creativity to help other people. She wishes to put her own qualities into practice to create a more pleasant living environment for people within, or someday perhaps even outside of The Netherlands.

Contact: Daan van der Linde