With a buddy, you can learn the language of the region.
From colleagues to neighbours
At school, in the supermarket, in our neighbourhoods – everywhere we go, we increasingly encounter internationals who live and work in the Brainport region. This offers opportunities, but also requires new ways of living together. ASML recognises this change and is taking responsibility. Not only as an employer, but as part of the community.
The challenge is clear: how do we ensure that newcomers can truly feel at home here? And how does this region remain a pleasant place to live for locals? The answer lies in encounter, understanding and, essential, language.
Taalkracht: Learning Dutch for the labour market
Language is the key to employment. That is why ASML is collaborating with Summa College on Taalkracht, a programme that improves the Dutch language skills of residents of the Brainport region. The goal? To train 800 adults who speak Dutch as a second language to language level B1.
The language modules are tailor-made and tailored to the direction in which the student is looking for work. Healthcare, education, technology – the lessons are practical and directly applicable. Participants learn the medical terms they really need in healthcare, or the technical words used in the workplace. That makes it relevant and effective.
Expedition Veldhoven: Discovering Veldhoven together
You don't just learn language in the classroom. You learn it in conversations at the gate, on the neighborhood bench, during a walk through the park. That's why ASML and Cordaad launched the Expedition Veldhoven program. A program that brings newcomers and local residents together so they can get to know the region together. Not through brochures or rules, but through conversations, walks, coffee breaks, and shared experiences.
The beauty of a buddy is that it is accessible. You practice language in a safe, informal setting. And at the same time, you learn how things work here. Where can I find a good doctor? How does the waste separation system work? What does it mean when the neighbors say “gezellig”? But also bigger questions: how does it feel to grow up somewhere else? What do you miss? What do you appreciate? The program is all about reciprocity. Everyone learns, everyone gives, everyone grows.
Neighbourhood benches and community campsites
Encounters begin with space. Literally. Together with Stichting De Buurt, ASML is placing 160 neighbourhood benches throughout Brainport. Places where people happen to meet, where conversations start, where connections grow.
ASML is also organising six community campsites where locals and internationals can meet, share stories and build friendships. These are accessible events where people can just be themselves. Where neighbours talk to each other who would otherwise never have met. Where small conversations lead to joint visits to the market on Saturdays. Small things that make a big difference.
Bottom-up ownership
ASML believes in the power of bottom-up initiatives. That is why the organisation works with Stadsmakers, a grassroots initiative that enables residents to take the lead in creating local connections. Stadsmakers acts as a living lab, a testing ground for scalable social innovation.
ASML also provides micro-grants to residents of Veldhoven who initiate projects to bring internationals and local residents together. Creating a neighbourhood garden, organising a table football tournament, setting up a cooking workshop – the grants help turn ideas into action.