500 PEOPLE ON HOLIDAY WITH NEIGHBOURHOOD CAMPING DESPITE CORONA
Foundation ‘De Buurtcamping’ (neighbourhood camping) aimed at organising 43 neighbourhood campings throughout the country this year. After 1.5 years of being stuck at home, the need for holidays and meet-ups was larger than ever for many people. When the first three neighbourhood campings started, the government announced new corona-measures for multi-day events at the same time. This meant that many of the neighbourhood campings had to change or cancel their plans at the last moment.
In the end, 9 out of the 43 neighbourhood campings took place in full form, and 5 neighbourhood campings organized an activity weekend without overnight stays. For the neighbourhood camping, it was a disappointment that many of the campings could not take place. In the end, however, over 500 people could still have their holiday and meet new people on a neighbourhood camping.
For the Zorg van de Zaak Foundation, this result is also worth mentioning. Many people live off limited income and run the risk of falling into social isolation. The neighbourhood camping activities have at least made a difference for 500 people last summer.
Some campings could only last for 2 days instead of 3, due to the corona-measures. Municipalities often changed their rules at the last moment, and there was uncertainty as to the continuation of the planned campings. Some activities had to be organised in such a way that the 1.5 metres distance could be held. As an automatic result, the number of participants was lower.
Out of the neighbourhood campings, new initiatives emerged in the neighbourhoods. Additionally, existing initiatives have been revived. For instance, the admin team in Zaanstad helps the local canoe association with chores in exchange for the free loaning of canoes during the neighbourhood camping. In the Sloterpark in Amsterdam, they decided to revive an empty community centre with a program for the neighbourhood. In Hilversum, the admin team set up a walking group so as to meet and support neighbours during the corona period.
‘De Buurtcamping’ listed the results of the past summer:
• 9 neighbourhood campings
• 5 neighbourhood campings ‘without sleeping bag’ (activity weekend)
• 34 camping admins in execution (95 camping admins had to cancel their plans)
• 510 campers
• 96 organisations involved
• 225 volunteers
• 3.510 meetings
• 33 per cent of campers are minima
