stories
A look back at Café Trottoir, De Voorkamer’s StraatFest programme at RAUM
On Saturday, 25 July, we spent a beautiful sunny afternoon and evening at Café Trottoir, transforming Berlijnplein into a vibrant communal living room together with our community and friends at RAUM Utrecht.
Creative workshops, jam session, games, and Arabic coffee
Throughout the afternoon, there was something for everyone. De Voorkamer's former artist-in-residence Abdalla Daif led a performance workshop in which participants reflected on their hopes and visions for the future by creating banners with political slogans. At the same time, others gathered around an open jam session with Arabic coffee, games, and conversation, while Joy Gibelin and Juliette Douet invited participants to create their own amulets, each carrying a personal intention or wish to take with them beyond the workshop.
Dinner & Stories
As the afternoon slowly flowed into evening, we gathered around a long table to share a community dinner prepared by our community chefs, Alaa Laham and Sheida Najafi. Together, they brought flavours, memories, and traditions from Palestine and Iran to the table. Alaa served a Palestinian-inspired rice dish that reflected the power of food to bring people together across cultures, while Sheida prepared Persian halva, sharing how this traditional dessert can hold both memories of loss and the possibility of creating new moments of sweetness and connection.
Interactive Music Performance
As the sun began to set, we ended the evening with an interactive performance by Olupemi Oludare, supported by our beloved Community Building Facilitator Yetunde. Through rhythms, songs, movement, and body percussion inspired by African musical traditions, they invited us to connect through sound, let loose, and throw our hips around together.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, participated in the workshops, and shared this special day with us. Together, you made Café Trottoir such a warm and memorable summer gathering.
Until next time! 💛
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