A unique research collaboration is unfolding in Amsterdam Nieuw-West that seeks to shift how informal community knowledge is valued and utilized in shaping policy. Titled Ontwikkeltraject Benutting van ErvaringsKennis (BEK) – “Development Track Utilization of Experience Knowledge” in English, the initiative brings together the Vrije Universiteit (VU) and three key community-based organizations: Road of Hope, Home Empowerment Foundation, and Nadia Sbai Foundation. Their aim: to reimagine the role of experiential knowledge (insights grounded in lived experience) in informing decisions that affect local communities.
Through five permanent projects and a range of initiatives, Road of Hope builds bridges between different realities and worldviews, offering practical support while tackling emotional barriers and fostering personal growth. With BEK, Road of Hope deepens its mission by stepping into the role of co-researcher, marking its third participation in a research project. This initiative signals a new chapter: embracing knowledge production not just as a complement to their community work, but as a core field of activity.
Rethinking Inclusion
Despite formal institutions making efforts to engage residents, the research finds that community voices are often invited only after major decisions have been made. This approach, researchers argue, fails to do justice to the depth of knowledge informal organizations possess. In the Nieuw-West, where many grassroots initiatives work tirelessly to address issues like emancipation, the gap between formal recognition and structural support remains wide.
The BEK research takes a different approach by starting with the informal organizations themselves. It applies the principles of design-oriented research and design thinking, which prioritizes empathy, co-creation, and iterative problem-solving. The process includes interviews, literature reviews, master classes, design workshops, and dialogue sessions with formal institutions.
Co-Creation in Practice
The research is now in the master class phase, following a comprehensive round of interviews and analysis conducted earlier this year. In these sessions, community leaders like Patricia Silva Barendregt (Road of Hope), Rafia Aallouch (Stichting Home Empowerment), and Nadia Sbai reflect on how they use their lived experiences to guide their work. Together with researchers, they examine the intersection of grassroots expertise and academic knowledge.
Two design sessions are planned in the next few months, where participants will generate and prototype solutions for bridging the gap between informal insights and institutional practices. These prototypes will then be presented in dialogue sessions in the second semester with stakeholders from formal institutions, including the Task Team for Ownership, Inclusion, and Democracy (EID), part of the national program Samen Nieuw-West.
The project will culminate in a concluding report and closing meeting by the end of this year, offering concrete recommendations for long-term change.
A New Direction for Road of Hope
For Road of Hope, BEK represents a growing role in knowledge creation and policy innovation. As co-researchers, the foundation’s leaders are not just sharing their stories; they’re shaping frameworks for inclusion, equity, and shared decision-making. Their involvement ensures that the findings are grounded in real-world challenges and solutions that resonate with those most affected.
“Too often, our knowledge remains invisible in decision-making processes,” said Patricia Silva Barendregt, Road of Hope’s co-researcher. “This project is an opportunity to make that knowledge visible, valuable, and actionable.”
By focusing on women’s empowerment, the research also seeks to correct longstanding imbalances in whose voices count in shaping public life. The ultimate goal is for formal institutions to develop tools and mindsets that not only include but are transformed by the communities they serve.
Toward a More Equitable Amsterdam
As cities grapple with complex issues like inequality, displacement, and social cohesion, projects like BEK offer a roadmap for deeper collaboration. Through its role in this initiative, Road of Hope reaffirms its mission to empower, connect, and now—co-produce knowledge.
The lessons from BEK have the potential to influence not only New West but broader municipal and national policies. At its core, the project asks a simple yet radical question: What happens when we start by listening to the people who know their communities best?
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Explore the Road of Rope’s previous collaborative research:
Empowering Refugee Women Through Experiential Knowledge in Amsterdam.
Collective Cultural Research.