After a year's absence, the festival is back. In the living room of The InnBetween at the Capucijnenstraat various free activities take place, where the emphasis is certainly not only on religion. There is not only room for praying together, but also, amongst others, yoga, a lecture on mental health, a juggling workshop and - as happened last Tuesday - making music “The main goal is for people to meet each other here”, says chaplain Rachelle van Andel. “And it's also a nice opportunity to introduce new students to The InnBetween.”
Reaching people is somewhat harder this year, however. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the activities have a limited number of participants. The music activity is fully booked with about twenty people. Although that is not all bad. Besides getting to know others, the organisation also wants to challenge participants to step out of their comfort zone. As it turns out on Tuesday: a small group quickly feels like a safe environment in which that can easily happen.
“There’s only one rule today: don't hesitate, but throw out what comes to mind”, the teacher tells the group. “Often people are afraid to speak up. Try to let go of that.” One by one she points at the participants, who make a sound with their voice or the instrument they brought. The result satisfies her. "You guys are pretty good at being uncomfortable", she notes enthusiastically.
The festival concludes this Saturday with the Tafelen Diner, organized together with the Refugee Project Maastricht. Students prepare their own meal, which they then eat together with fellow students and refugees. "Before corona, we did this every Thursday," says Van Andel. "Now we can finally start again. The plan is to hold it weekly again after this. Hopefully with many new students joining us."