Daphne Schipper
Director
Daphne draws inspiration from pioneers who challenge the status quo – from Yvon Chouinard, who built Patagonia with purpose, to start-ups that know how to turn climate challenges into business opportunities. Organizations that operate with clarity, courage and curiosity always have her attention.
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As a B Corp, nlmtd deploys entrepreneurship for social progress: business as a force for good. And who benefits more from this progress than young people? Decisions in The Hague have the longest impact on young people, but until they turn 18, they have little influence on them. That's why we are organizing De Toekomstmakers: a day where young people sketch their ideal Netherlands, share concerns and formulate solutions. Not to dictate policy, but to make the voice of the future audible.
As a B Corp, nlmtd leverages entrepreneurship for social progress: business as a force for good. And who benefits more from this progress than young people? Decisions in The Hague have the longest impact on young people, but they have little influence on them until the age of 18. That’s why we are organizing De Toekomstmakers: a day where young people sketch their ideal Netherlands, share concerns and formulate solutions. Not to dictate policy, but to make the voice of the future audible.
On October 15, we welcomed over 40 pre-university students from Huygens College to our office in Amsterdam for a day of learning, action and impact. In interactive sessions, they talked about themes that directly affect them – think climate, housing and safety – and worked out ideas with an approach that gives everyone’s voice space.
A day full of energy
Together with the youth, we literally and figuratively dove into the future of the Netherlands. The day consisted of two parts: a creative workshop and an afternoon of plastic fishing on the Amsterdam Canals with Plastic Whale.
During the workshop we used the 1-2-4-All methodology: first forming individual ideas, then working in pairs, foursomes, and finally coming up with one proposal as a group. We did this per theme: the 42 students worked in six groups and came up with a total of six concrete ideas about the future of the Netherlands. We deliberately kept the questions open, without guidance, so that the first direction really came from the students themselves.
Central questions were:
What does the Netherlands of the future look like?
What concerns do you have about the future?
What are the biggest challenges for your generation?
Then students chose their top three priorities from ten topics:
1. World & security
2. Climate & sustainability
3. Housing & affordability
The students then came up with not only keen observations, but also concrete solutions: from more focus on mental safety and neighborhood initiatives to creative ideas on circular energy, greening and affordable housing.
This stood out
The conversations were open and remarkably mature about the world they are growing up in. Security was top of mind: not only around war and geopolitics, but also close to home, such as the safety of women in public. Moreover, the climate is still very much alive. Many students appeared knowledgeable about topics such as energy storage, grid capacity and greening. Finally, housing symbolized a broader sense of insecurity: “Will there still be room for me later?”
Words speak volumes. In the wordclouds below you can see terms that came up a lot such as safe, green, cozy, fair and affordable. Words that together paint a clear picture of what this generation wants: a future that is both sustainable and livable.
Please note that these results come from one group (one school, one curriculum) and are therefore not representative of all young people. As far as we are concerned, however, they are signal and directional.
In action on the water
After the workshop, students took to the water with Plastic Whale, ending the day with impact in action. The catch of the day?
- 6 green bags of PET bottles
- 5 yellow bags of canned goods
- 9 garbage bags of residual waste
- 6 bags of other plastics
- 26 pieces of glass
A visible reminder that small actions together have great effect. Thanks to Plastic Whale for the guidance and energy!
The voice of the future
The day’s insights were compiled into a letter to the House of Representatives, with a clear message:
“Political decisions affect young people the longest, but they have the least influence. Actively involve their voices in choices that shape the future.”
The letter invites politicians to discuss the three priorities above. Because real progress happens when we make decisions with the generation of the future.
And now?
The Future Makers was a first step, but certainly not the last. The involvement and curiosity of these young people show how valuable their perspective is. We are therefore expanding this initiative to more schools, levels and regions, so that a broader picture emerges of what concerns young people in the Netherlands.
As an organization, we remain committed to a future-proof society where learning, doing and impact go hand in hand. Together, we go further than alone.
Want to sign up as a school, organization, county? Gladly! Get in touch via the green button on the right side of the page!
Download the letter to the House of Representatives here
