Marion - Own We

In 2020, Marion met Anita, the founder of Eigen Wij. The click was immediate and the ideas came naturally. She wanted to do something for others. After becoming partially disabled herself, she did not throw in the towel. With her creative background as a graphic designer and her love for people, she wanted to do something. With her attitude; I have never done it before, so I think I can do it (Pippi Longstocking) she started working at Eigen Wij. The basis lies in meeting. Just having a cup of coffee, a cookie, very important, and then having a chat with each other. Started out as a volunteer on Wednesday mornings, now she volunteers in various fields, but especially on Thursday mornings in the Atelier.

During Corona, meeting was temporarily not possible. They came up with a way to still connect people. It became a mega large painting of all the little paintings. 250 small paintings and painting utensils were handed out and everyone was free to make something beautiful with the theme "together". The result hangs behind Marion in the picture. She is still proud of that.

Atelier

But Marion wanted more and figured that in order to organize things she also needed more money and was given the opportunity to delve into fundraising and grants. That too was a whole new world for her, but she bit into it. Because there was still so much she wanted to start. Her biggest project to date was making the Atelier a reality. With a grant from Fonds 1818, she, Anita and a nice team of volunteers managed to turn a junk shed into a beautiful studio. It was officially opened at the end of 2023 and to this day there is a cozy studio morning every Thursday morning.

For Marion, being creative is a way to just relax and get out of your head. For many people it is. On Thursdays the studio is open for this purpose. Everyone is welcome to be creative every week for a small contribution. This can be painting, claying, making collage art. But it is also mainly to be together, drink coffee and chat.

Neighbors and Culture Day

Another great project she and Anita set up with a grant from the municipality of Zoetermeer, Fonds 1818 and Oranjefonds is the Neighbors and Culture Day. In the spirit of meeting, eating and getting to know each other's cultures, special days are organized every two months, each time focusing on a different culture. At the end of March, another Neighbors and Cultures Day will be organized. This time the theme is Italy. It is sure to be a great success again and above all a great feast!

Revival

It is very nice to see that people who sometimes come in here quite shy, timid, blossom after a while. Everyone has a story and often a backpack. Those people get all the space they need to do something or do nothing. You don't have to do anything, you can do nothing' is an important saying here.

Snowball effect

Marion's enthusiasm is contagious. When there are ideas, and there always are, the next step is the hardest. Go ahead and do it! Just try to get something off the ground. That space is there for everyone.

About 2 examples of people who blossomed here Marion tells very lovingly. Where it started with recovering from a difficult time, from burnout to uncertainty and depression to proudly starting their own project or participating in existing projects.

Go with the flow

Her life motto: "Go with the flow" never lets go of Marion. She doesn't look years ahead, but lives in the moment. She enjoys that. And in the moment, she still has plenty of ideas for Own We. She is now working on a special women's day on March 8, the further development of a language cafe, men's day, mom's cafe and an open mic. Next year Marion will turn 60, "Who knows, maybe I'll write a book or go on a chopper trip." But for now, she is happy here and hopes to make many more people happy with the things she does.

Follow everything going on through the website Own We and their social media.