At Stichting Move we aim to make it easier to make contact outside your bubble. In the end, we are more alike than we think.
Lotte ter Horst
Junior Project Coordinator The Hague at Stichting Move
Humans of the Hub
The Hague Humanity Hub is at the heart of a thriving community dedicated to strengthening peace and justice. That is what you read on our website, in our newsletter and on our socials. But who are the individuals behind the organisations? Behind the initiatives, the research, and the actions striving for a more just and peaceful world?
We are excited to relaunch Humans of the Hub, an interview series with community’s members!
Humans of the Hub takes you beyond the logos and formal titles to introduce you to the passionate people who form this unique community. It’s not just about the programs, projects, or institutions —it’s about the humans who dedicate themselves to the cause of peace and justice. Meet the humans who make this community.
Meet Lotte ter Horst from Stichting Move.
Why are you a member of the Hub?
We, Stichting Move, may be the odd one out because we operate locally and nationally, and not internationally. Nevertheless, we, like many others here, are working towards a better world which is inspiring to be surrounded by.
Plus, the location of The Hub is ideal: we are close to schools, students, partners and the central stations which is valuable for our work in The Hague and Leiden.
What do you like most about your organization?
I like the fact that we seek connections between different groups in society, especially in this time where polarization seems to be increasing. We organize projects in which children take action for their own neighbourhood, with the help of students and young professionals. At Stichting Move we aim to make it easier to make contact outside your bubble. In the end, we are more alike than we think.
I also appreciate how practical my work can be, it’s not only desk work. I go to schools, into the neighbourhoods and work with the kids. Sometimes as a coordinator, sometimes as a guest teacher when we need an extra pair of hands.
What challenges do you face in your field of work?
As a foundation, financing is always a challenge. We depend on funds and municipal subsidies.
In addition, there is a lot of pressure on education. The teacher shortage and budget cuts make it more difficult for schools to make room for projects around citizenship and equal opportunities. We also notice that students are less likely to do volunteer work since corona, because they already have a lot on their plate: study, part-time job and social activities.
What do you like about The Hague?
The Hague surprised me! I come from a small village and I have lived in Leiden before, The Hague feels like a big city with many different people. What struck me is how much green there is: the dunes, Scheveningse bosjes, perfect places to run.
At the same time, The Hague is the most segregated city in The Netherlands. In richer neighbourhoods you see much greener than in other neighbourhoods. You also see more fast-food restaurants in less wealthy neighbourhoods, which makes it more difficult to make a healthy choice. All this reflects a form of inequality.
Stichting Move is active in those neighbourhoods. In our projects, children take matter into their own hands. Last fall, children from the Schilderswijk put together healthy food packages and handed them out to their neighbours. Children learn the value of community and lending a helping hand.
Stichting Move: inequality of opportunity in The Netherlands is growing
In the Netherlands, there is an increasing gap between the different social classes. In the Netherlands, there is a growing gap between rich and poor, young and old, and practically and theoretically educated. The place where you were born still too often determines your opportunities. There is a growing problem in equal opportunities between young people and children from neighbourhoods with a lot of poverty and children and young people who live in neighbourhoods with little to no poverty.
Stichting Move sees citizenship education as an opportunity to contribute to reducing both inequality of opportunity and polarization. Citizenship education is a way to increase the cultural and social capital of children and young people – a condition for increasing equal opportunities.
Learn more about Stichting Move here.