Interview with Tjalle about the LESLEC project in Ghent

Several organisations are joining forces to launch a Learning Ecosystem in Ghent, with a focus on shared use and repair: De Transformisten, Wij Delen, Mpact, Gents MilieuFront (GMF), and LABO vzw. We are receiving support from Europe WSE.

The project has ‘LESLEC’ as a nickname… Gesundheit! What does it mean?

We turned ‘leerecosysteem’ (learning ecosystem) into a weird letter word. The full name is: Leerecosysteem Gedeeld Gebruik en Herstel in Gent (learning ecosystem shared use and repair in Ghent).

Everyone knows Ghent is awesome but we need to ask the question anyway: why Ghent?

Well, in the first place because our office is here. Ghent is also a city in which many sharing and circular initiatives are already happening. What we miss is an overview, a connection between all of those projects. Having this could help boost the ecosystem a little so everyone can continue to grow and innovate. We are focusing mostly on who is present in the neighbourhoods of Brugse Poort and Dampoort.

What’s the point of the project?

We want to create a sort of living network that supports current and future initiatives. That way we can continue to learn and exchange. Personally, I also see possibilities to make these projects more resilient, so they are less dependent on which way the wind blows. We are currently in the exploratory phase of the project, so we’ll see where it goes in 2025.

Why Mpact? Which of the Mpact initiatives can add something here?

We definitely went into this with Cozywheels in mind. It is an obvious link of course, because Cozywheels is about sharing cars and bikes with neighbours. Apart from that, Mpact has resided in Ghent for the past 50 years. We serve the whole of Flanders from this office but we sometimes forget that the city of Ghent is our anchor point. If we can help other initiatives and become part of a local network, it is a win-win.

Let’s say an organisation wants to join this learning ecosystem. What would be the first rule or tip you’d include for them to fit in?

The first rule of fight club in this case is… talk about it 🙂 If we don’t talk about it, it will remain under the radar. So, spread the word that this thing is happening!

What’s the most unexpected item you’ve seen repaired or shared in one of these initiatives?

I can’t really come up with an item that surprised me because I knew many of the initiatives already. But, I was fascinated by the deposit system of Klusserette. They work with shared tools. As I understand it, they don’t have the classic set-up of insurance and deposit when you rent their tools. The tools are instead collectively owned. If something happens and a tool breaks, you have to let them know. But it’s not that you have to pay them a fine, because these tools are “our tools”. With a system like that, the threshold is much lower to participate. However, there are some items that break more often than others. For those, there is an extra fee on top of the subscription. This system is original and it works well!

If your learning ecosystem had a mascot, what would it be and how would it represent the spirit of shared usage and repair in Gent?

°sighs° … an ant or something? Because they work together to build the wildest things. And they know how to use their hands (figuratively)!

Thank you, Tjalle, for explaining this project! Read more about it here (NL). Our next interview about LESLEC will be with Mpact colleague Lotte (Op Wielekes).