KIT offers Kids van Amsterdam new home in renovated theater
After a long search, the Kids of Amsterdam (KVA) has found a new location at KIT.
At KIT, the organization will continue their mentoring and music and dance classes with young people. A number of rooms in the former Tropentheater will be remodeled in the coming period for this purpose. The start of this cooperation and the renovation was festively underlined on Thursday, February 9, with an official signing ceremony with both parties and district chairman Carolien de Heer. The Kids of Amsterdam provided spectacular performances at the construction site and on the stage of the KIT Theater during this moment.
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“We are happy to offer space in our building to the Kids van Amsterdam. Developing talent and ensuring social welfare for young people in this neighborhood dovetails seamlessly with other local initiatives we host, such as Studiezalen’s homework assistance for schoolchildren, and community activities like Waste for Harvest in our courtyard garden,” said Henri van Eeghen CEO of KIT.
Nathalie Oldenstam, director of Kids of Amsterdam: “The collaboration and housing at KIT is a dream come true. The design of the dance and music studios with all facilities for children looks fantastic. This allows us to continue our mission, to give children confidence and a safe home. The children are the new generation and together with them we are working to grow Amsterdam’s future. We can’t wait for our first performance in the KIT Theater”.
KVA expected from next school year at KIT
To house the KVA, the theater auditorium and related spaces will be refurbished. Two rooms will be transformed into dance and music studios and the foyer will also be restored. The former Tropentheater, which has been closed since 2013, will regain a public role in the neighborhood with the arrival of the KVA. This fits well with KIT’s goals as a working and meeting place for social entrepreneurship and sustainability in the city. Work on the renovation has been underway for several weeks and will be completed no later than September 2023.
Kids van Amsterdam
KVA has existed since 2007 and is housed in the Hugo Olijfveldhuis on Zeeburgerdijk. For some time, the organization has been looking for a new location that offers more space for the growing number of students. KVA emerged from the neighborhood approach in the Transvaal neighborhood. In 2007, they won Ymere’s better neighborhood award. And in 2009 the organization was voted the best neighborhood plan in the Netherlands.
