different needs, talents, and skills in a naturally inclusive setting. Creating a space where these needs and abilities can to be exchanged and further developed redefines the market into an open space everyone can participate in and benefit from. By organizing this space in a physical place, the market moves beyond exchange, sharing objects, ideas, experiences, and services and allowing relationships between activities and people to emerge. How one works together with others How one works together with others Dimitri Brugmans developed Hire a Buddy!, a community owned platform designed to create community and friendship. The app connects people locally. Users can rent a friend to show them around in a new country or town; go to a movie, restaurant, parties or events; or even teach a new skill or hobby. The app connects people with similar interests or people who do not know anyone in that location. Hire a Buddy! is strictly a platonic friendship app and is not intended for dating or other services. As in the Social Coffee Place, people can switch roles depending on what they want or where they are. In one’s hometown, someone might want to meet people who are not local and offer friendship. However, while abroad, the situation may be reversed. To make sure the platform’s focus remains on only friendship and community development, Dimitri designed the app to be completely community driven and owned. Hence, the people using it benefit, and all users are stewards of the purpose, development, and application of the platform. Gradually, this app will develop into a selfsustainable community where buddies and users create their own social events, ranging from going out, co-learning, becoming familiar with a location, or other activities. This is a true movement where Hire a Buddy! only functions as a go-between, and the members of the community are the owners of the app and create their own events to tackle loneliness. In addition, this app is free. 11
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