How did marginalized and often overlooked communities in The Hague cope with the COVID-19 pandemic? And how did the government's measures to halt the spread of the virus affect them?
Four projects run in cooperation with the International Institute of Social Studies and local communities investigated.
On Friday, 4 June 2021, ISS held an interactive webinar inviting participants to learn about the outcome of four projects focusing on the impact of COVID-19 measures on local communities in The Hague.
These projects are supported by the Local Engagement Facility (LEF) fund, which encourages and formalizes collaboration between ISS and other societal actors in the city, including both local communities and formal institutions and organizations. So far, the four projects have produced several outputs that underscore how specific communities, especially those with migrant backgrounds, have been affected by the lockdown and other restrictive measures due to the pandemic.
A catalyst for knowledge-sharing and local research
The webinar’s plenary session began with an introduction by ISS Rector, Professor Inge Hutter.
The four projects
- Experiences of Habesha migrants in the Netherlands
- Documenting the undocumented
- Engaging with organizations in The Hague
- Solidarities during the pandemic
Each project leader was then given the floor to share their main findings and open up about their insights. Participants were then invited to four breakout rooms of their choosing to speak with project leaders and share their experiences and insights.
The closing session provided an excellent springboard for ideas between participants, ISS researchers and staff. Project leaders and staff hope that the webinar serves as a catalyst towards pathways for knowledge-sharing and more opportunities for local research to be conducted in the future.