In Den Haag verblijven zo’n 3.000 Oekraïense ontheemden in de gemeentelijke en particuliere opvang. In dit onderzoek is onderzocht op welke wijze(n) Oekraïense vluchtelingen erin slagen hun weg te vinden in de Haagse samenleving, wat daarbij de rol is van (in-)formele netwerken en wat hun toekomstplannen en verwachtingen zijn. Hiervoor hebben we interviewgesprekken gevoerd met Oekraïense ontheemden en met Nederlandse gastgezinnen die Oekraïners in huis hebben (gehad). Het veldwerk vond plaats van januari tot mei 2023.
With growing environmental concerns, upcycling has become an important theme in literature and practice. Upcycling can help slow and close resource cycles through product life-extension. Cities offer opportunities for upcycling initiatives and seek to tackle challenges in urban solid waste management by encouraging entrepreneurs to create value from local waste streams in urban resource centres and circular crafts centres. However, little is known about what drives urban upcycling and which barriers and drivers occur. This study explores urban upcycling in the context of the Dutch furniture industry, since The Netherlands positions itself as a ‘circular economy hotspot’ and furniture offers promising opportunities and best practices for upcycling. The analysis of 29 semi-structured interviews with experts engaged in urban upcycling reveals personal motives, drivers and barriers. Personal motives include (1) a personal purpose to ‘do good’, (2) an urge to challenge the status quo and (3) learning and inspiring by doing. Key drivers entail opportunities to (1) engage in collaborative experimentation, (2) participate in cross-sectoral local networks, (3) develop resource-based adaptive competences, (4) respond to increasing demand for upcycled products and (5) make social business activities financially viable. Key barriers perceived by upcycling experts include (1) limitations in resource availability, (2) increasing capacity requirements, (3) negative public quality perception, (4) limited marketing competences and (5) an unequal playing field. This study contributes with a comprehensive definition of urban upcycling and a structured overview of key factors that drive and constrain urban upcycling.
Several studies show that climate change has a mental impact on many young people. Given the number of young people who experience mental burdens related to climate change, and the relative novelty of climate change as a theme in youth development, it is important to explore the core elements of their experience and what youth professionals observe in terms of climate stress and other reactions from young people as they become more aware of climate change. The concerns, stress, and other reactions as told by youth and seen by youth professionals vary widely. There are various perspectives on the explanatory factors, personal characteristics, situational factors, and complicating elements connected to the topic of climate change, that according to youth professionals contribute to these differences. Supporting youth professionals can help raise awareness of and address the impact of climate change on young people.
