Faces of Rotterdam – I am a Rotterdammer – travels throughout Rotterdam. In collaboration with the City Marine anti-discrimination and anti-racism initiative, each neighborhood will host a gathering where we celebrate the diversity of the neighborhood. We will also leave behind portraits of the neighborhood residents for the neighborhood. “Faces of Rotterdam shows the diversity of the city and now also the neighborhood. It invites people to engage in conversation with each other, bringing together people who might not have met otherwise. In this way, Faces of Rotterdam contributes to a more inclusive and respectful society,” says Ton van der Leck, City Marine anti–discrimination and anti–racism officer.
Some of the photo portraits will travel to specific neighborhood locations. For example, some will be on display in the library in Rozenburg from February 12 and in De Hillevliet in Hillesluis from mid-March. “It’s great that we can bring Faces of Rotterdam even closer to the neighborhood residents. Connecting people is the goal of our project,” says photographer Robert Tjalondo. The photo portraits are accompanied by QR codes that link to the stories of the neighborhood residents online and/or an audio tour. The inclusion flag is also displayed next to the portraits, which is intended to radiate pride in all the nationalities that Rotterdam has to offer.
Each neighborhood location will host a wonderful gathering where we will talk to various neighborhood residents and watch the short film together. “These conversations show how beautiful diversity can be for a city. People talk about what they have brought to the neighborhood and what they have learned from the neighborhood or the city. This is how we truly celebrate diversity,” says project manager and chairwoman Willemijn de Koning.
The first neighborhood meeting in collaboration with the City Marine anti-discrimination and anti-racism will be opened by Alderman for Community Life, Faouzi Achbar. The opening will take place on Thursday, February 12, at 2:30 p.m. in the library in Rotterdam (Molenstraat 20) and admission is free. Refreshments will be served. We will talk to Rozenburg residents from South Africa and Egypt and watch the film together. Registration is not required.
