Meike Kühl

This March I, Meike Kühl (age 26) joined Villa Lila as aspiring staff member. The villa had posted an appeal looking for a feminist-oriented woman to reinforce the staff. That I felt drawn by this description already shows my gender-conscious position in life.

At the moment I’m studying Cultural Anthropology in Nijmegen, and in my studies I am especially interested in the way people put their heart and soul in their religious perceptions. Other important anthropological themes that interest me are trauma, violence and the unequal division of power.

Apart from my studies, to which I devote myself with much enthusiasm, as a citizen I feel driven towards societal commitment. My lesbian lifestyle brought me to Villa Lila in 2002. From 2002 to 2006 I committed myself to the Pinkeltje foundation, Holland’s biggest holebi-organization for young people (since 2005 known by the flashy name of Dito!). At Pinkeltje I was a staff member, and I was mostly occupied with the service-providing side of the organization. In those days I managed, together with many impressive and active fellow volunteers, to accomplish a great deal for holebi-youths. After my management days I dedicated myself to many other projects in the pink movement; among others I coordinated, together with another volunteer, the Pink Saturday activities for young people.

And so now I have become part of the management of Villa Lila. Operatives, volunteers and trainees are very important for this vivacious and color-conscious, social-cultural center. That’s why I’m glad I can do my bit for the pink and diverse movement, by, among others, encouraging the volunteers. The next few months I want to work on an optimal work climate for volunteers with the help of trainees. Another important subject I put on my managerial agenda is the program scheduling for Villa Lila. Together with, among others, managing director Helm de Laat and general staff member Niels Spierings I will be working on this. We want to continue the dynamic and renewing development the Villa has gone through this last period, and this way make the unique character of our organization accessible to a diverse public.