Ted Asselberghs is saying goodbye but remains a freelancer of sorts
Five years ago, on 29 August 2020, De Groene Poort Oost hosted its first open day. Two abandoned football fields overgrown with weeds, a dilapidated clubhouse recently vacated by squatters, and a party tent in the middle of the grounds.
There I met enthusiastic early volunteers who presented their plans for a neighbourhood park. One of them was Simone, and she asked me if I’d be interested in starting a newsletter. The goal was to regularly inform local residents about the park’s developments. It was also to get people excited about becoming volunteers.
I really had no idea how to regularly talk/write about a park that wasn’t there yet, but I said yes wholeheartedly.
Digital meetings
Shortly after, a complete lockdown was announced due to the coronavirus pandemic, and we had our first editorial meeting via Zoom. This meant writing about a site that was inaccessible but was to become a neighbourhood park, conferring via video call with strangers, and coming up with content that was engaging enough for local residents to read.
I found it quite a challenge at the time (especially those Zoom meetings), but I managed it.
This was certainly also thanks to the pleasant collaboration with the other editors Lieke, Sjanine, Gonda and of course Simone.
Beautiful moments
For me, there are a few “cherries on the cake” that are coming to mind now: the opening of our park in May 2024, the large number of volunteers we can always count on, and meeting the other editorial team members in person after all those long lockdowns. This last point also confirms the value of personal contact, meeting and talking to each other. That’s the entire goal of our park.
Gradually, I took on the task of helping to prepare lunch during the monthly work day. It’s always a pleasant occasion where the volunteers not only enjoy a sandwich, but also get to meet and get to know each other. It’s a truly wonderful thing to do.
Managing the Facebook page became a task I volunteered myself for at the time. After all, it’s a communication tool we frequently and gratefully use, and it’s earning us a growing following.
But… It’s time for me to stop these regular volunteer tasks. I’ve really enjoyed it and I remain available for occasional freelance work, as I’m enjoying that as well.
I wish my successor at the newsletter, Patrick, a lot of success and a lot of fun, and I wish the same for Jan and Lisette at the monthly workday lunch.
See you all at the park!
Ted Asselberghs (who wrote this piece exactly five years after that first open day, namely on 29-08-2025).