It is not a place you immediately think of when it comes to the reception of Ukrainian refugees: the football canteen in Ransdaal.
However, this place is being converted to accommodate a maximum of 16 people after the Easter weekend.
Empty canteen
Due to a merger of Klimmania from Klimmen and SCKR from Ransdaal, the football canteen has become redundant. The canteen in Ransdaal has been empty for quite some time. A thorn in the side for many villagers, but that is about to change. We are working hard to renovate the canteen so that refugees can move in after the Easter weekend.
Not finished
A lot still needs to be done before the canteen and changing rooms are ready for housing. Some windows have been closed due to vandalism, the water supplies that have been shut down for years have to be made safe, benches have to be removed, the heating has to be checked and so on. “Fire safety must also be in order, because living in a football canteen is something else,” says initiator Marianne Winthagen.
Last moment
In the first instance, families of about 8 people are assumed. There are two ‘living rooms’ and the four changing rooms are arranged in such a way that four people can sleep. If smaller families come, a wall can also be made in the canteen to create extra space to house three families, for example. “We do not know until the last moment what the composition of the people will be. How many and what age the children will be, for example. But we have everything ready and are prepared,” says Winthagen.
Big garden
In any case, the households have a large garden. The football field will be partly converted into a vegetable garden and equipped with playground equipment because it is suspected that families with children will come. And a staircase? That’s already there…