What is Rooted?
Rooted is a thought leader on belonging. We challenge and reshape what it means to feel at home in a world shaped by migration and growing diversity. Our work combines research, lived experience and community practice to support people in rooting, without having to leave parts of themselves behind. This leads to a deep sense of belonging and feeling at home – a basic human need and the foundation of a cohesive society.
“After Rooted, my chin is up when I walk outside. I did not want this country to change who I am, so that I may fit. I felt I had to be something else, to be accepted or loved. But now I know, I belong here, too.”
Philisiwe, Rooted community member, roots in South Africa
Why Rooted?
Rooted exists because feeling at home and belonging are fundamental human needs. We work primarily with people who navigate multiple cultures, identities and communities. Through our methodology, grounded in research and lived experience, we help people strengthen their sense of rootedness: in themselves, in their communities and in the society around them. After Rooted, people no longer see themselves as a temporary visitor or someone of whom only a certain part is welcome, but as a full-fledged member of Dutch society.
Our experience has shown that the search for belonging extends beyond migration. In a rapidly changing and increasingly diverse society, many people are looking for connection, recognition and a place where they feel they belong. We believe that people with a migration experience have valuable insights to offer in this search. Having often navigated different cultures and ideas of home, they can help us better understand what it means to build belonging in a changing world.
Rooted brings together these experiences and insights to strengthen both individuals and communities. We see that when people feel rooted, they are better able to participate authentically in society, connect across differences and contribute to a more inclusive and cohesive society.
Meet Rooted
What we offer
Group weekends
This is at the core of Rooted’s impact. A multi-day transformative program, full of workshops and sessions to strengthen your sense of physical, emotional, mental, social, temporal, spiritual, intergenerational and spatial rootedness. You sign up as an individual and become part of a community.
Workshops and in-house trajectories
We offer support for your community, organization or company, looking to build increased social cohesion and belonging. Ranging from 90-minute workshops to full-day facilitation and longer paths, we offer customized programs that leave you feeling transformed and strongly rooted, as an individual and collective.
Community-building and events
Beyond our core programs, Rooted organizes community events across the Netherlands. Open to the public or only to former Rooted weekend participants depending on the event, these gatherings create space for connection and social rootedness. Ranging from small scale neighborhood gatherings to our large annual Rooted Festival.
Advocacy and speaker pool
On a societal level Rooted advocates for a cohesive society, in which all people authentically belong. We publicly share our expertise as a thought-leader on belonging to inform policy, build bridges and strengthen our capacity to live together in diversity. One of the ways we do that is through the Rooted speaker pool: community members who share their journeys from uprootedness to belonging. Through powerful, personal talks, these speakers inspire audiences at events across the Netherlands to embrace layered identities as a source of strength and navigate a changing social landscape.
“At first, I wanted to be Dutch. I was was walking on eggshells in The Netherlands. Now, I want to be me. I’ve got a footprint to leave behind.”
Inaas, Rooted community member, roots in Morocco and The Netherlands
Our Impact
We analyze our impact rigorously before, right after and six months after Rooted programming. Participants of our programming report:
- Feeling a stronger sense of belonging in the Netherlands
- Feeling more self-confident
- Feeling more connected to their physical environment (neighborhood, nature, etc.)
- Being able to show a more authentic version of themselves in the workplace
- Experiencing improved physical, emotional and mental well-being
- Feeling more acceptance of all their different identities
- Feeling a stronger connection to a social network
- Feeling an increased strength and motivation to contribute to society
- Experiencing more authentic and equal interactions
- Experiencing increased recognition of themselves in others
- Experiencing increased understanding of the position of others