Commonbound

Haarlem, Netherlands

Nika van Olst

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I want to make a direct, local impact while inspiring broader change by proving that progress is possible, even when it starts small.

Current project

Circulaire PopUp Haarlem

On behalf of Haarlem Food Future

What do you do with food you won't eat before it goes bad? Most people might toss it in the bin. Yet, there are much smarter, circular solutions to prevent food waste. During the Circulaire PopUp in Haarlem, and on behalf of Haarlem Food Future, I’ve...

Looking for help with media coverage

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The thread through my work

I’ve always sought to maximize impact with limited resources, which has led me to focus increasingly on ecosystem building. I start by developing a vision and shaping the narratives around it, then identify people and organizations working towards the same goals and build a framework for collaboration. This approach has helped me pool existing human and financial resources, as well as mobilize additional resources when needed.

I feel most alive when...

I bring people together through experiences that educate and inspire without feeling like formal learning.

Skills in practice

Swipe or use the arrows to browse 6 skills.

Community fundraising

Vollpension Generationendialog GmbH · 2025

Designed a two-stage fundraising campaign and acquired more than €500.000 to realize two additional locations for this Viennese social...

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Ecosystem building

Kickstarter PBC · April 2015 – June 2017

Built a referral network of project creators through partnerships with coworking spaces, cultural institutions, design universities, and...

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Community architecture

Virgin Money on behalf of HANZO STUDIO SL · January – December 2018

Built a partnership ecosystem with 36 UK universities, a distributed mentoring circle network for student career advice and produced...

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Projects

Side projects

Haarlemse Postduiven cover photo

Haarlemse Postduiven

I make little ceramic pigeons with sustainability messages and hide them around the city. Most of them get stolen, but I hope the people who take them place them somewhere they see them...

More about Haarlemse Postduiven

I make little ceramic pigeons with sustainability messages and hide them around the city. Most of them get stolen, but I hope the people who take them place them somewhere they see them daily—serving as a constant reminder of what the pigeons stand for.

Haarlemse Postduiven , photo 1Haarlemse Postduiven , photo 2Haarlemse Postduiven , photo 3Haarlemse Postduiven , photo 4Haarlemse Postduiven , photo 5
The Many Lives You May Live – WIP book cover photo

The Many Lives You May Live – WIP book

I'm planning my fourth book! I'm currently collecting notes and stories to make it just as impactful as my first three. For this project, I want to explore how people completely reinvent their...

More about The Many Lives You May Live – WIP book

I'm planning my fourth book! I'm currently collecting notes and stories to make it just as impactful as my first three. For this project, I want to explore how people completely reinvent their lives after 35—capturing the raw struggles, the profound lessons, and the "aha" moments along the way.

Example quiz answers

Problems to work on next

Illustrative answers based on Nika's portfolio, added to show how the quiz could look on a profile. Nika hasn't completed the quiz.

Goal 11 · Sustainable cities and communities

Give communities a say in city planning

Bring neighbours into conversations about the places they share.

Read target 11.3

By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

Target 11.3 in the SDG directory

Goal 12 · Responsible consumption and production

Help businesses act and report on sustainability

Help businesses understand and communicate their sustainability work.

Read target 12.6

Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

Target 12.6 in the SDG directory

Goal 17 · Partnerships for the goals

Bring public, business and community partners together

Bring communities and organisations together around a shared project.

Read target 17.17

Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resources strategies of partnerships.

Target 17.17 in the SDG directory

Find your own priorities

Sustainable development goals

Problems I want to work on next

Selected UN targets. Open a goal to read the targets in full.

Reduce inequalities · 1 target
  • 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Sustainable cities and communities · 1 target
  • 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Responsible consumption and production · 1 target
  • 12.6 Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.