Meeting point No Limit is called ‘the living room’ of Nieuw-Overdie. There is kickboxing, but the entire neighborhood can also come here for a cup of coffee and a listening ear. To receive a subsidy again next year, the community center must prove that they have become indispensable to the neighborhood. Three young men talk about how this place changed their lives forever.
In the gymnasium of the No Limit meeting point, on Lorreinenlaan in Alkmaar, kickboxing trainer Aus works up a sweat for a group of young men between the ages of 15 and 35. A little further on, Marja is chatting on the sidelines with a boy who is getting ready for the next lesson. In the meantime, she makes a strong pot of coffee.
When socio-cultural worker Marja and professional kickboxer Aus were given the opportunity to open a community center in Nieuw-Overdie together in 2014, a dream came true for them, says Marja.
Picked from the street
Together they move into the ‘problem area’ and literally pick the nuisance-causing youth off the street. “We approached groups of young people, on squares and other hangout places. And we visited the parents to build a relationship of trust with them as well.”
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During that period, the duo also works closely with the local police officer, the area director and other youth organizations. “In this way, we not only gained a good insight into the situation in the neighborhood, but also in people’s homes. By joining all these forces, nuisance was reduced by 80 percent in one year,” she explains.
Open every evening
The meeting point is open almost every evening, so that young people do not have to hang out on the street. Classes are held in the gym in the evenings throughout the week. In which boys, girls, men and women of different ages participate.
15-year-old Yousri was one of the first boys from the neighborhood to play sports at No Limit. “First I was taught by Marja and then by Aus. I was really taken care of here, so this place means a lot to me. I was often bored at home and standing on a square all day playing football is not for me.”
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If the meeting point were to disappear, he fears that boredom in the neighborhood would quickly strike again. With all its consequences. “There are many young people in the neighborhood who actually have nothing to do. It would be better for them to sit here or train, instead of hanging around outside.”
“You develop discipline, perseverance and respect here. That is why I, and the boys from the neighborhood, ended up here and stayed here,” said 23-year-old Ismail.
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In the past, he could usually be found on the street and liked to cause mischief with his friends. “I came here six years ago. I also belonged to the group of troublesome youth. When you try to break the boredom, sometimes you do things that you later regret.”
‘We destroyed everything’
“When I lay in my bed afterwards, I thought: what have I done? We destroyed everything and just did it again the next day,” he says, looking back on that period in his life.
Meeting point No Limit has become a kind of safe oasis for the neighborhood, Ismail explains. “This is a place where we feel seen, heard and, above all, accepted. Here I have been able to develop my identity and talents very well. Among young people of all different nationalities. Dutch, Turkish, Surinamese and Moroccan; it all comes together here.”
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According to Ismail, the community center has made a big difference for families in the neighborhood. And positively influenced the lives of many young people. “At one point we said to each other: ‘Ey uh, are we going to train today?’ At first we went once a week, then two, then four and eventually we were here every day. So that helped us get off the street 100,000 percent.”
Team Badr or Rico
The Alkmaarder is currently one of the participants in House of Glory on Videoland. In this new program, talented kickboxers compete against each other in team Rico or Badr. “Now I inspire other boys, who look up to me and think: yes man, he used to be a street kid, now he is here.”
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Mohamed (31) has also been visiting Marja and Aus since the beginning. He believes that the meeting point should receive more subsidy, so that the living room can also open again.
Anger out, head clear
“I now kickbox at a high level and also participate in competitions. If you are worried about your life or work, you can talk about it here. Or let out all your frustration or anger and clear your head. And all that with respect for each other. We all walk out of here as friends, whether you are ten or fifty. That is very cool about this place.”