Erasmus Verbindt facilitates socially oriented education at the university. We do this by acting as a proactive matchmaker to connect important issues from the region with the EUR’s educational programs. In this way, we ensure that real-life challenges from Rotterdam society find their way into the lecture hall, while students are given the opportunity to develop into true ‘Erasmians’ by dedicating themselves to the city.

TIME OUT. is interactive theater and research combined, focusing on issues that young people are currently struggling with. Our target group (young adults, students, and young professionals) proposes the topics for our projects and participates from start to finish. Not for young people, but with them. Their voice, their stage. That’s how we make a difference in mental well-being.

The Lieve Mark Foundation is committed to giving young people a greater voice in policies that affect them. We are committed to mental well-being, youth participation, and all other social issues that are important to young people. We do this for and by young people. Our goal is to build bridges between young people and administrators, policymakers, and politicians. We do this by researching what young people think, advising administrators on these issues, and bringing about change. In short, we are the canary in a coal mine for young people in the Netherlands. And that’s how we ensure that every young person is heard! 

The Dutch National Youth Council (NJR) is the umbrella organization of 37 national youth organizations, making it the largest youth network in the Netherlands. NJR aims to encourage and support the participation of young people between the ages of 12 and 30 at all levels of society; ensuring that young people recognise, develop and utilise their strengths to create a better future for themselves and others.

MindUs addresses the mental health crisis affecting young people in the Netherlands. As an initiative connected to MIND foundation, they create platforms where young people feel seen and heard, collaborating with youth, policymakers, municipalities, entrepreneurs, and scientists. Their mission focuses on building mental resilience among young people, recognizing that 75% of psychological problems emerge before age 25, with significant consequences for individual futures and society overall.

Albeda is a regional education centre (ROC) school, serving as one of the largest regional educational providers in the Netherlands. Albeda provides education in Healthcare, Welfare, Service Provisioning, Food, Technology and Economics, plus adult education including integration and Dutch language courses. With approximately 25,000 students and 2,000 employees, they create learning environments where students, employees, businesses and institutions learn together.