Sonya Wilson-Becker

"I have lived in IJburg for many years and have always been an active member of our community. 

I am a Community Artist and educator who creates collaborative projects to address local issues. I believe art is a universal language and a form of therapy that connects audiences directly to the heart of social situations.

Currently, I am actively involved with "Stichting, Room for All," an organization that has distributed more than 12 diverse books to  primary schools in Amsterdam and recently launched four more. Driven by a desire to uplift community spirit during COVID-19, I also founded Poppenkast IJburg to give local children a creative outlet and bring neighbours together through laughter and shared imagination. 

 I have a "no telephones" rule which is especially important these days and it really helps people get into a "flow state."

In addition to my work with schools, I host Collage Community Oost, a club I have been running for over a year. Once a week, neighbours come together to de-stress and reconnect through the tactile art of collage. By maintaining a phone-free environment, we create a meditative space where participants can focus entirely on their creativity. Accompanied by tea and cookies, these sessions offer a rare opportunity for residents to slow down, work with their hands, and build meaningful social bonds. The price bases is 5 euros then pay as you like above that.

Beyond my current projects, I am passionate about further enhancing the quality of life in our neighborhood through three key initiatives:

• Community Greening & Biodiversity: I want to see an abundance of wildflowers across IJburg. My goal is to organize a neighborhood-wide movement where residents come together to plant native seeds, transforming our public spaces into vibrant, biodiverse corridors.

• Strengthening Cross-Cultural Connections: While IJburg is a diverse area, there is a constant need for deeper engagement between our various communities. I aim to create more opportunities for residents of all backgrounds to meet, share experiences, and build a stronger, more inclusive collective identity.

• Urban Maintenance & Cleanliness: On a practical level, I am advocating for the strategic placement of more dog waste bins. Improving our local infrastructure in this way helps keep our shared streets and parks clean for everyone to enj

Dreams are made to be Dreams and positive actions are for the driven forces that helps us lead to change...

As a Cultural Curator and active resident of IJburg, my contribution lies in bridging the gap between artistic expression and social impact. I specialise in creating initiatives that transform our shared spaces into hubs for connection and growth. 

In short, my role is to act as a catalyst using art, culture, and community engagement to make our neighbourhood more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable.

I am the one who identifies a community need whether it is a lack of social cohesion, a need for more greenery, or a gap in representation—and turns it into a concrete project like Poppenkast_IJburg or Collage Community Oost

Using my background in art and education, I translate complex social issues into accessible, creative activities. I help participants use art as a form of communication to address the situations that matter most to them.

I serve as a voice for the neighbourhood, pushing for practical improvements that enhance our daily lives