Vergeet-me-niet Gesprekken (Don’t forget about me conversations)

Some stories slowly disappear from a city. Not because they are unimportant, but because nobody really asks about them anymore.

With Vergeet-me-niet Gesprekken, Bildung Nijmegen brings young people and older residents of Nijmegen together through personal stories, memories and meaningful conversations. Within this project, young people will speak with elderly residents from traditional Nijmegen neighbourhoods such as the Benedenstad, Bottendaal, Hatert, Heseveld, Neerbosch-Oost, Waterkwartier, Willemskwartier and Wolfskuil.

These are not formal interviews or standard questionnaires, but real encounters where people share stories about solidarity, neighbourhood life, loss, change and what it meant to grow up and live in Nijmegen throughout the years.

Many of these memories still live within people, yet are slowly fading away with time. Through this project, we want to preserve and share these stories with new generations. The conversations will be transformed into small portraits combining photography, quotes and personal stories. These portraits will later be presented through neighbourhood exhibitions, online platforms and a final closing event together with Bibliotheek Gelderland Zuid.

For us, this project is not only about preserving memories or local heritage. It is about human connection. About young people listening to experiences they might otherwise never hear. About older generations feeling that their stories still matter. And about creating new connections within the city of Nijmegen itself.

Would you like to join this project?

We are looking for young people who would like to help with conversations, interviews, portraits and community activities. No experience is needed. Curiosity, openness and genuine interest are what matter most to us.

We are also looking for elderly residents and other people from Nijmegen who would like to share their stories, memories and experiences connected to the city and its neighbourhoods.

You can register through our application form or you can email us: Adnan@bildungnijmegen.nl . After registering, we will contact you with more information about the project and upcoming activities.

Together, we make sure these stories are not forgotten.

Vergeet-me-niet Gesprekken is an initiative by Bildung Nijmegen and is made possible with the support of the DELA Fund.