“Nies Medema”

Nies Medema is educated as an artist. She became a writer and journalist. She wrote books on , Adoption, Iran, China, Mozambique and initiated and edited three books together with journalists and writers from the majority world. She has been making radioprogrammes on migration, and edited a book called 'Home' (Thuis) with Dutch and refugee writers. Medema is programme manager for On File, an organisation for refugee writers and journalists, and organises cultural websites www.exponto.nl and www.wereldjounalisten.nl with correspondents from some 20 countries (mainly residing in The Netherlands).

Rotterdam -  Young skippers are trained in Maashaven. Lars de la Rie (one more week of school to go before he will be inland skipper) told me he was born only 5…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Rotterdam -  In the harbour (Maashaven) someone felt the need to make art on this metal door.…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

After the houses on this corner were demolished, these colorful faces appeared, painted on a mobile home in a garden. How did they ever get that caravan in this garden…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Zafer Adsalmis (age 24) started the Osmanli diner at Katendrechtse Lagekade in May 2010. He studied Banking and Insurance, worked a a bank for three years and found it boring…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Minja Schotel is an artist and researcher. In Tarwewijk she does research on micro-entrepreneurship. She has found 21 men and women so far who have or would like to have…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Many people in Tarwewijk who used to work in the harbour and factories are jobless today. The new job market is in hairdo (African, Asian, Western), international telephone booths, small…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

The Tarwewijk Rotterdam. A man transports scrap metal with his ship from one harbor to another. His hands are poison and acid resistant, he says. …
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Two towers on a 200 square meter play ground. It’s 4 pm, there is not one child playing. In Dutch cities, there are many of these so called Playground Associations…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

While focusing on migration, entrepreneurship, violence, volunteer work, churches and welfare, I almost forgot to share the great views one has in this neighborhood. Rotterdam is a port, and as…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Some grain ware houses have been renovated and are used as discotheques or apartment buildings now, this one in Maashaven is still functioning.…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

This is one of many money transfer shops in Tarwewijk. Since many Tarwewijkers want to send money home to their family, this is the perfect neighborhood to start a business…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

At the hairdresser in Dordtselaan a poster is displayed. It says: ‘ I will act when I witness a violent situation in the street.'The poster was published by the…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

To my surprise, the Chinese poet Bei Dao (now living in Danmark, is quoted on a garbage truck. It says: ‘ The source dries out, the fire rages, the road…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

View on Tarwewijk, the old grain warehouse. Tarwewijk in Rotterdam was built for dockers, sailors, workers and their families. Some of them still come to the harbour every day. ‘In…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Three Rotterdam men (who’s parents or grandparents were born in Marocco) discuss personal matters in an Italian ice cream parlour. Behind them a wall poster with a streetview from Italy…
Nies Medema – Rotterdam Lab

Whatare we to make of a circular illuminated sign with the text: ‘OK, safe point,report violence’? Is this a safe point because the sign is here or is this…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

In many shop windows in Dordtselaan, like this Islamic Surinam butcher, a poster on violence and safety is displayed. It suggests that we all should act when witnessing violence.According…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Two balconies in pensioners home ‘ Harmonie’ (Harmony). One with a Dutch flag, the other with a satellite dish, allowing her to watch TV shows from all over the world…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Father Sheikh (born in Pakistan) started his mini-supermarket 8 years ago. Daughter Maawish (born in Rotterdam) wanted to be a model when she was younger, but is happy to work…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

A Turkish Rotterdammer is repairing a car with a Bulgarian license plate. In Bulgaria, the Turkish minority is often discriminated against. Turks and Bulgarians often dislike each other, make jokes…
Nies Medema – Rotterdam Lab

Due to floods in Pakistan, the okra in the grocery store of the Sheikh family is now imported from Kenia and Surinam.…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

A man transports scrap metal with his ship from one harbour to another. He says his hands are resistant to poison and acid. His ships’ name is De Volharding (Perseverance)…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

Traditional Dutch churches and believers are becoming extinct species. This is a spire of a former reformed church in Tarwewijk. It is now the home of a church called Victory…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa