Buddy voor Elkaar
Imagine this: You’ve just moved to the Brainport region. Everything is new, the language, the surroundings, and the people. How wonderful would it be to receive some help through your children’s school, your sports club, hobby, or neighbourhood to find your way, practise the language of our home together, and feel truly settled? That’s exactly what Buddy voor Elkaar is all about. With this initiative, we bring locals and newcomers together. Locals help new residents get involved in community life, through clubs, schools, volunteering, and neighbourhood activities. This way, new friendships grow, and together we build a socially strong region.
What is Buddy voor Elkaar?
Buddy voor Elkaar is an initiative of ASML in collaboration with Brainport voor Elkaar. With Buddy voor Elkaar, residents of the Brainport region and newcomers, including international knowledge workers, expats, students, and refugees, come together. They form buddy groups in places where they already meet, such as schools, clubs, or neighbourhoods. With the support of a buddy coach, they organise activities and practise the language together. Equality and a sense of humour are at the heart of it all.
For newcomers, this offers a safe and friendly way to practise Dutch and find their place more quickly. For locals, it’s a chance to discover other cultures, feel proud of their region, and do something meaningful for someone else.
How does it work?
Community clubs, primary and secondary schools, scouting groups, and sports clubs, these are all places where locals and newcomers meet. They can sign up to take part in Buddy voor Elkaar to get to know one another better and look beyond their own social circles.
Together, we’ll launch a local campaign at your meeting place to inspire more people to join, both locals and internationals. We provide engaging posters and flyers to help raise awareness and attract participants.
What will you be doing?
- In six to eight meet-ups of 1.5 hours, you'll practice Dutch, get to know each other's cultures, and have some fun along the way
- You'll meet as a group, and each time you'll connect with different buddies, a great chance to make new friends too.
- You'll be guided by Dutch language trainers and experienced workshop leaders who know how to help people connect and keep things 'gezellig'.
Buddy voor Elkaar is all about making that first step easier. After that, you decide what comes next. Whether it leads to a friendship, helping out at school with luizenpluizen or doing a shift behind te bar, it's all good.
‘We are committed to a strong Brainport region where everyone feels at home. That starts with actively bringing people together in their own communities – at work, at school or in their neighbourhood. By connecting locals and newcomers and encouraging them to step outside their own circles, you see wonderful connections being formed.'
Marjolein de Hooge - Hoofd Maatschappelijke betrokkenheid at ASML
