During 2008 LSDP organized a great project Neighbors from New-West in Amsterdam together with designers made a series of design products with their garbage which they self brought to the temporary ‘Desycle Center’.
During 4 months they worked together in workshops and transformed old cardboard boxes, plastic bags, old clothes and furniture in trendy bags, jewelry and hip wallets and lamps.
Other neighbors, shops and organizations worked together bringing their contacts for the project and supplying material, like the vegetable and fruits shop Emre and Juttersdok (well known second hand shop from Amsterdam) among others. As result there is a big local network that wants to continue desycling activities, like the 10 coaches that are now able to start training other people.
End of June all the results and the great design were exhibits in an event during 4 days in the famous Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam. The exhibition was also build with garbage and old materials; people were fascinated with the transformation. 7,000 pet bottles were giving form to the 4 pavilions where workshops and other desycling activities took place. The shop was always full of people who wanted to buy a desycling manual to transform their garbage in something new.
A public discussion was organized during the course of the event. It brought together people from different disciplines, like minister of Social Affairs of the neighborhood Westerpark, representatives of recycling companies, second hand companies, welfare organizations as HIVOS, designers and neighbors. They discussed themes as participation, recycling and the feasibility of a permanent Desycle Center to start in 2009. General conclusion was the willingness to work together in creating a better world, starting with local activities as Desycling Amsterdam.
We will post in the New Year more news about the plans for 2009! Look at the activities in the weblog: www.desycling08.blogspot.com
