Breaking the taboo on loneliness

"When we, Mila, Anne and Aisha, started the Value Creators module, we were challenged to find a societal issue that mattered to us and create value around it. After many discussions, one topic kept returning to our conversations: loneliness.

Almost everyone experiences loneliness at some point in their lives, yet very few people talk about it openly. The more we discussed the topic, the more curious we became. Why is loneliness still such a taboo, especially among young adults? And what could we do to help change that? What started as a classroom assignment quickly became one of the most meaningful projects of our studies."

Exploring a hidden challenge

"To better understand the issue, we immersed ourselves in the topic. We conducted extensive research, attended the Dutch Week Against Loneliness and spoke with experts and organisations working in this field. 

What surprised us most, was that young adults are among the groups most affected by loneliness, yet they often receive the least attention. We also discovered that many people find it difficult to talk about their experiences, which makes the issue even more invisible. 

The deeper we explored the topic, the more motivated we became to create something that could encourage open conversations and reduce the stigma surrounding loneliness."

Working beyond the classroom

"One of the most exciting parts of the project was collaborating with organisations outside Windesheim. Through networking and many conversations, we connected with Faktor5 and Een Tegen Eenzaamheid, a national initiative supported by the Dutch government. We were discussing ideas with professionals, receiving feedback from experts and working alongside organisations that genuinely believed in the value of our project.

These experiences gave us a glimpse of what it means to work on real-world challenges and showed us how much can be achieved when people with different perspectives come together around a shared goal."

Creating something that lasts

"Together with our partners, we developed a workshop designed to start conversations about loneliness among students. We also created a playbook and curriculum template that can be used by Windesheim in the future. 

Knowing that our work could continue beyond the semester was one of the most rewarding aspects of the project. We were not simply creating something for a grade; we were creating something that could help future students feel more connected, supported and understood."

More than a project 

"Looking back, this experience taught us far more than expected. We learned how to conduct research, build partnerships, engage stakeholders and turn ideas into practical action. We faced challenges, adapted our plans and discovered how important collaboration is when working on complex social issues. Most importantly, we learned that creating impact does not always start with a big solution. Sometimes it starts with a conversation."