Third round, new energy (and 66 students choosing it)
Some collaborations feel familiar after just two projects. And yet, it's always exciting to walk into the gym: who's up for it, who's still waiting to see what happens, and who secretly has plans to lead the team themselves someday?
We've now started our third MDT project at Thorbecke Talent School: a group of 66 students, all in their third year of MAVO (pre-vocational secondary education), who consciously chose LO2 (level 3). And it shows right away. The first few weeks have flown by—great dynamics, lots of energy, and above all: students eager to learn how to not just "teach" a lesson, but also how to truly embody it.
From participant to sports leader: six months of building impact
In six months, we'll take this group toward something bigger than just sports. Yes, they'll learn skills. Yes, they'll develop teaching methods. But the real benefit lies in the process: taking responsibility, communicating, reflecting, and understanding the reasons for agreements.
We gradually bring them to the level of new sports leaders—with the social aspect fully integrated. Because if sport is a means, then leadership is the result.
Streetwise as a common thread: disciplines that empower young people
What makes this program so powerful is that we work across multiple streetwise disciplines. Not as separate workshops, but as a single narrative:
- Basketball freestyle & 3x3 (working together under pressure, daring to fail, keeping trying)
- Breakdance (expression, rhythm, respect)
- Street football (creativity and game intelligence)
Spoken word (finding and using your opinion and voice)
- Free run (exploring boundaries, safety, trust)
And through it all: social impact. How do you be a role model? How do you make a lesson accessible? How do you ensure that everyone can participate—even those who would normally drop out?
