#80 Why I started a Death Café with Ewout Van-Manen

I’d heard about Death Cafés but never attended one and have always wanted to learn more about the movement. In this episode I have the pleasure of talking with Ewout, facilitator of the Death Café Suffolk Transitions.  We talk about the origins of Death Cafés, how they run in practice and what drew Ewout to become involved.

Key messages from guest

• Ewout shares his interest in holistic education and health and how dying has become medicalised.

• Ewout supported his sister as she was dying, talking to her by video call daily and describes a journey of exploring death and dying research

• Death Cafés are a social space over coffee and cake to talk openly about death, dying and bereavement

• Preparing in advance is a way of taking control

• Death Cafés are events rather than places

Resource

• Find out more about Suffolk Transitions Suffolk Transitions 

• Find out more about the Death Cafe movement

Bio: 

I am originally Dutch and was imported into the UK in my early teens. Hence my name which is very easy and phonetic – if you’re Dutch! It is also probably why I struggle with taboos as it is in the Dutchfolk soul to say things exactly as they are.My professional background is in education and as a pedagogue you learn at least as much as you teach, but the greatest treasure I have from working closely with children and colleagues is the observation of human development – of heart, head and hand.