The idea for the well-being dashboard did not come from behind a desk, but from the neighbourhood itself. Stichting SES, a foundation in Amsterdam Zuidoost, has been committed to well-being in Venserpolder for many years and is highly knowledgeable about the neighbourhood and its residents. Its staff were keen to harness that knowledge, so they asked themselves: how can you measure well-being and what can you do with that information? Economist and urban strategist Najah Aouaki got involved and helped turn this idea into a project. She put the neighbourhood in touch with the University of Amsterdam, where researcher Nicky Pouw enthusiastically joined the project.

Pouw is a researcher in the field of welfare economics. This view of the economy focuses on human well-being rather than economic growth. For her, there was an important prerequisite for this project: ‘We only wanted to participate if this was truly a project by residents themselves: not built from the top down, but from the bottom up.’ The well-being dashboard project is now running in four Amsterdam neighbourhoods, with a fifth neighbourhood planned. In all neighbourhoods, the UvA is constantly working with local residents.

Not about, but with the neighbourhood

In neighbourhoods like Venserpolder, there is often distrust towards the municipality or other agencies when these kinds of projects are put together. This was reflected in the initial reactions of some residents. ‘So many promises have already been made,’ says Gilma Laurence of Stichting SES. ‘Often, you never hear anything about them afterwards. That’s why it’s so important that residents are part of the project from the beginning.’

The initiators of the Stichting SES project went looking for ‘key people’ in the neighbourhood, who know what is going on locally. The researchers interviewed these people to gather information about the neighbourhood and then organised workshops with a larger group of residents. During those workshops, residents learned about the study and were able to share their opinions and ideas about well-being in their own neighbourhood.

Their input resulted in ‘indicators’: yardsticks that show what the situation is like in the neighbourhood and how people are doing. Pouw: ‘We asked questions like “do you feel safe in your neighbourhood? Is healthy food affordable and available? Is there room for children to play?’

From front door to food bank with an interpreter

After the interviews and workshops, the researchers drew up a questionnaire. This was not just handed out or put online: project staff went into the neighbourhood themselves, often together with young people from the area. At times, an interpreter also came along to translate questions. The staff visited homes, schools and even the food bank. This was important, because not everyone finds it easy to complete a form or is digitally proficient. The researchers were keen to talk to such people about their experiences as well. ‘We want people of different ages, backgrounds and living arrangements to be heard,’ says Lydia Pont, a volunteer at Stichting SES and a tax lawyer, business consultant and personal development trainer in daily life.

Young people were actively involved as well. The team created a special coffee cart to answer the survey questions in a fun and playful way. The cart was placed at different spots and events in the neighbourhood. Together with Laurence, kids also made their own ‘dashboard’. This helped them think about their area and wellbeing in an enjoyable way – and it also showed what young residents find important.

Talking to authorities yourself

A total of nearly 300 questionnaires were administered, providing a significant amount of information. The data will be used in discussions with the municipality, housing associations and other organisations. Residents can practice how to engage with these parties and how they can use the information gathered from the questionnaires to do so. ‘By doing so, residents also take a big step in their own knowledge and personal development,’ Pont explains.

The project also has value for the university. For example, researchers like Nicky Pouw are looking at how stress affects how people make choices about money. ‘People who struggle to make ends meet often live from day to day,’ says Pouw. ‘That affects how they deal with work, money and health. We still see too little of this in standard economic thinking. This study addresses that.’

Seeing that your voice counts

For many residents, the project is worth something to them personally as well. Laurence: ‘At first I thought: should I participate in such a study? But it’s important that we share our thoughts with each other and that we pass on this knowledge to young people as well as the older generation.’

Pont also sees how residents are developing: ‘People are learning a lot about research and are now even using complicated terms like “indicators” and “monitoring” themselves. They now know how policies work and how you can influence them. And perhaps most importantly, they see that their voice counts.’