Help transform a former Catholic convent in Rotterdam into a sustainable, peaceful and compassionate place where anybody is welcome to discover their happiness. An idea from ginny

the former convent in Rotterdam

I love this idea, but I don't really get how? What's the plan? Is it legal? Is anyone already doing something?

hi Julia, thanks for your comment! don't worry, it's very much legal :)

the plan is to arise a place for sustainability, peace and compassion. initiator is Lama Jigmé Namgyal and his center Phuntsok Chö Ling in Rotterdam. the vision is that every improvement of neighborhood, city, country or society starts with changing ourselves. that way we can benefit others. living, working and spirituality comes together in this former convent and will be a place for individuals, self-employed and small businesses who (want to) live and work by those values (sustainability, peace and compassion). I think Maarten and his efforts can make a vital contribution to the welfare of the community for now and future generations. does that answer your questions, Julia and all other 7?

Don't get angry with me, but this idea sounds kind of selfish, getting Maarten to work for your organisation. People will be welcome in the convent to discover their happiness, but have to pay for those classes and retreats, right? In my opinion, the real challenge for december is to come up with an idea that addresses an urgent problem on a worldly scale (just as Maarten says in his latest video)."Think unrealistic but with necessity" :)

I think this idea (and infect all ideas posted )are very much about a problem on worldly scale. Sustainability peace and compassion are necessity over the entire world. If you ask me all people in all circumstances can have tremendous benefit from values like peace and compassion.

When people adept these human values, understand that their own happiness starts with the wish for others to be happy and start building up education, economics businesses etc. on that foundation..... Can you imagine what can happen then? I do.....

I support this idea because it starts with your own responsibility and not just an element of a worldly problem influences by many different causes and conditions. Hunger, poor people, suffering, bad education, murder etc. all urgent problems in the world but I think that somehow they are all effect from people trying to become happy with the wrong tools. (greed and power)

It makes me happy when I read that they try to make this first little step for the world to arise a place for sustainability, peace and compassion.

I guess an investment in time or money in a project like this can only be a positive deed for the persons how are willing to do so. And to become very practical, everything in this world needs investments in time and money these days the only good question is: What is the goal of the investment: Is it to make more money and become rich, or is it to establish something that will benefit the welfare of generations…

Nicolette

Every single drop can turn into an ocean, it only needs people to bring everything together.

I have been in doubt for a week, but finally decided to vote "I don't get it" ... because: I think this website was designed to post NEW ideas for Maarten to develop into a project for one month. Then people who are interested in "I want to make the world a better place" can vote on the presented ideas, so as to choose for him.

This idea, as wonderful as I really think it is, is not a new one and does not answer the question of this month, as Marije already shared. And als o I wonder if it is people who regularly visit this site that voted for it, or the people who are already involved in the project...

Please do continue your project, which will certainly make the world a better place! But do it with your own resources and leave Maarten free to take on a new one.

Ha, I seem to have been typing at the same time as Nicolette!

I fully agree with your view: be the change you wish to see in this world :)

hi Verena.. i understand your point but i could not find anywhere the ideas has to be NEW...? i mean.. everything has been done already so how new do you want it to be? isn't it about the purpose: to make the world a better place? in my opinion this idea is not commercial, the purpose is to change once mind, the thing that creates everything around us, to create peace and to take care of eachother. anyhow, as Maarten says: it can be anything. i do feel that it fits this project. opinions can be different. may the the winning project be successful!

To be honest, I think it's far more important to teach sustainability peace and compassion to children, then to anybody else. In helping to change the way we teach, maybe the convent is not needed anymore, so that idea goes far beyond this one.

Hmmm, I think I will just let go of the idea that one or other idea is better than another one.

All ideas that have been posted on this website are wonderful!

And I am very happy that the mere existence of this website is making this world a better place, by being a source of inspiration, creativity and cooperation.

Thank you all for joining Maarten in this adventure and also for your efforts out there, where you are making a difference every day ♥

I agree on the importance of teaching children sustainability peace and compassion Hans. And yes of course I also agree that the education system should change.

I do have 1 question in my mind: How can you teach children those values if it are not your own values and you don't have the experience and knowledge yourself....

Chicken and egg Nicolette. We have to start somewhere. Waiting for the 'others'to take to principals makes no change. It's easiest afterall, to maintain the situation, keep going.
In their later life, kids will remember that there as been some talking about things. So, I believe, that if you want to change, you have to start with kids and school is a superb institution for that.
Isn't there anybody, who can ask a whole classroom of kids or a whole school, to vote for the 'education' idea? I hope so much that it wins.

Nicollete,
A lot of people (a least 97 who voted) are already the change they wish to see in the world (of education). The peace and compassion is in all of us, especially in children. So if we change the way we educate them, we will change the world. I see the values everywhere in education, only the system doesnt allow us yet to shine! Think big, start with children!

The most important thing is that we are actually talking about 2 beautiful ideas with the same goal: Make the world a better place and that can happen with both ideas.

I’m not a big fan from promoting one idea above the other. (especially not on the blog of the other one) They are both good, they can and will make change. It's just a matter of being different. Everyone has their own ideas, their own opinion and feels connection with different approaches.

They only thing I can add is that It’s great to see that so many people are aware that the world needs to change and that Maarten created lots and lots of awarness and involvement from many people.

Wishing you all the best and good luck with this the last month Maarten!

I think it is very nice that people are having a discussion with good arguments on whatever blog-comment.
It's a pity to kill an exchange of ideas and the discussion that follows. So, I still hope lots of people show their support for the education idea. :)

Did anything come of this?

hi becki, we're still on it. it takes a lot of time and effort to create such a place. at the moment we're checking out possibilities to raise money. thanks for asking!