Cultivating Community Through Innovation
"I see a lot of potential in people," Eefje Cottenier mused, recalling the inception of De Stuyverij. Frustrated by the lack of institutional support for people's talents in Belgium, Eefje ventured to Brazil. There, she observed a vibrant culture of Jeitinho, where citizens creatively use their homes and streets, a stark contrast to the Belgian approach. "In Belgium, people are forced into inactivity, we look for money first and then do something, which is a pity," she noted. This revelation inspired her to establish De Stuyverij, a place that would challenge the conventional and foster community growth through potential, not just proof of concept.
Growth came with its challenges. "People didn't know what I was doing," Eefje explained. De Stuyverij had to create both an 'impact fit' and a 'market fit', diverging from traditional organizational models. It wasn't just about the space itself, but also about adapting the mindset of the state and culture. Through trial and error in various spaces and a balance between top-down and bottom-up approaches, Eefje realized, "Sometimes it needs to go wrong before it goes right." We were lucky as early believers; we had Trividend and later on ESF noticing the impact of our work, stimulating us to grow at our own pace.
Eefje's eyes gleam with ambition when she talks about the future. "I'm itchy to start a blueprint of processes," she shared, envisioning the replication of De Stuyverij's ecosystem across 15 new houses. Beyond physical expansion, Eefje is also setting her sights on literary contributions. She aspires to pen a book chronicling her journey from naivety to the societal doors that have now opened, providing both a narrative and a blueprint for others to create impactful ecosystems.
Eefje’s advice for budding entrepreneurs is to focus on creating positive experiences and to recognize the value in every individual as well as the meaning we can have towards others, as having meaning is empowering (ikigai). "We are working with a diverse range of people in order to gain the cross-pollination that helps us grow all together (Vulnerable, other active, entrepreneurs, and caretakers)," she says, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and recognition for home makers, artists, and educators who enrich the community.
If given the chance to collaborate with any figure, Eefje would choose Mother Nature and the inventor of schools. From nature, we learn that every little particle is important and is playing its role sooner or later. She envisions a project that redefines learning as a reciprocal process, engaging every generation in a shared educational journey, much like the interconnectedness seen in natural ecosystems.
Eefje's connection with permaculture in her garden is a testament to her belief in ecosystems, whether in nature or society. "We create organisms instead of organizations," she declares, highlighting a philosophy that transcends her hobbies and shapes her leadership at De Stuyverij.
The spirit of De Stuyverij, much like the picture of Eefje surrounded by her colleagues, is one of vibrancy, potential, and a relentless drive to innovate and unite. It is a story not just of a social enterprise but of a movement that is reshaping the fabric of community and entrepreneurship.