Our population is changing. Not only in terms of demographics such as growth and decline, ageing and rejuvenation, and diversity of background – but also in relation to religion, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, appearance, political preference, educational level and income. At the same time, individual freedom of movement has increased, and identities have become more fluid than in the past. All of these developments have an impact on social cohesion. To live together in solidarity, we need mutual respect, a decent standard of living and equal opportunities. Not to mention the resilience to face social challenges together.
At VU Amsterdam, we stand in solidarity with one another. Through the VoorUit initiative, our students participate in the neighbourhoods or buildings where they live, contributing to locally relevant social issues. From conversation classes to community garden projects, they work with residents and partners on accessible activities that help create a neighbourhood where everyone feels at home and has the chance to thrive. In our experiential education programme, Community Service Learning, students carry out research on behalf of the City of Amsterdam exploring how art can improve the neighbourhood, for example. While another VU Amsterdam initiative for civic engagement is the “well-being on prescription” project.
In our education and research, we also focus on social cohesion and solidarity. Our students learn about societal resilience and work on citizenship in the classroom. And our researchers participate in the SOCION consortium; VU Amsterdam’s contribution has a particular focus on the relationship between social cohesion and individual values. Within the Institute for Societal Resilience, our researchers work across the boundaries of social science disciplines to address societal challenges, such as neighbourhood livability. They also work with community partners in expertiselabs on issues such as polarisation and refugees. In all cases, the focus is on resilience. Because as the VU Amsterdam community, we remain hopeful: society is resilient enough to meet the challenges head on – both now and in the future.
Together, we are working towards a diverse society with a hopeful future. For the sake of a fairer world for the generations of today and tomorrow.
