“It’s fun and it doesn’t take much effort to be socially engaged,” say Valerie van der Jagt and Juliette Klink. “Even if you only drink a cup of tea with lonely elderly people, it’s highly appreciated.” Together, the two master’s students make up the student team within StEHVen, the organization aimed at promoting Eindhoven as a student city. This is an initiative launched by TU/e, Fontys and the municipality of Eindhoven. Side note: those who organize an event intended for all students can apply for a subsidy there.

That TU/e values Social Heroes has been a known fact since 2021, when it was part of the university’s lustrum activities. This year, there will be a Social Heroes Day for the first time, taking place on Friday, March 28, at various locations off campus.

Dream

“It has been our dream for a few years to organize a big event that lets students take a look outside their own bubble. By that, we mean the academic environment and career-oriented networks,” says Valerie van de Jagt. To help them structure the big event, they received support from the Samen voor Eindhoven foundation. “That’s an organization that connects companies with social institutions for volunteer work. They also helped us find suitable activities for Social Heroes Day.”

Activities

The program put together by friends Van der Jagt and Klink consists of four separate components with a dinner as the joint conclusion. Students can sign up via the SG website.

Those who want to play bingo with the elderly can do so at the Vonderhof nursing home. If you’d rather roll up your sleeves and get to work, you can help out at care farm ‘t Wasven. There, you’ll get to work in the garden alongside the people who spend their day there. Any conversations that might arise can contribute to that desired broader perspective outside the bubble. The same is true for the offered excursion provided by formerly homeless people. If you want to get creative, you can sign up to (help) create crafts at the Dommelhoef care facility.

Credits

Social volunteer work should be promoted more at TU/e, the two students believe. “We find it striking that there seems to be more focus on earning credits for attending a lecture than on contributing to social cohesion in our city. We hope that, in addition to cultural broadening, social broadening will get a more prominent place at TU/e.” Van der Jagt adds: “For me, the fact that I study in Eindhoven with my very best friends is a given, but there are also many lonely people living here whom we can easily help.”

Volunteer work is also very well suited for a team outing, Juliette Klink explains. “You could choose to visit the Efteling with your team, but you could also spend a day together helping at a care farm; that might even be more fun, and definitely more valuable.”

As of this academic year, TU/e is a member of Brainport voor Elkaar, an association of social employers. The details of how this membership will be implemented are still being worked out, but one of the programs could involve giving employees the opportunity to volunteer as well.

Looking back

Keukenconfessies will host a dinner for all Social Heroes Day participants in the Klok building at Strijp-S. “There, you can exchange experiences,” says Klink. “We’ve noticed that talking about social volunteer work is very contagious. Personally, we’ve also done a lot of word-of-mouth advertising. We toured almost all study association boards to promote Social Heroes Day.” The students hope the day will become an annual event.