Women of Zuidoost

In Amsterdam Zuidoost, a district comprised of no less than 181 nationalities, women have shaped social cohesion for decades, often in the face of oppression. Informal support networks are typical of this part of the city. Solidarity is among the core values. This can be observed in people from young to old, and among women themselves, in support networks that are frequently under the radar, and yet crucial to the community. 

From the earliest generation of ladies from the coffee club in Venserpolder, who still cherish memories of when the area’s first homes were built, to the Ghanaian women for whom family and church are an important source of comfort, the influence of women over the years is unmistakable. The women of Stichting Pasensie offer each other support at a time when family members and children are living further and further away. The young mothers of Stichting Carbic and the proud girls of Little Miss Kwakoe give us a glimpse of the future of Zuidoost. We also see the same pride and resilience in the young ladies of the Pentecost Revival Church and the ABC Boxing School, where connection and strength go hand in hand.