Weekly Blogs

After months of planning, researching and preparing, GIN Day is finally here! Whether you're attending workshops, listening to keynote speakers or exploring student initiatives, the day is full of opportunities to learn something new. But GIN Day isn't just another school event, it's a chance to step outside your comfort zone, meet new people and discover how young people can make a real difference in the world.

One of the best ways to make the most of the day is to stay curious. Ask questions during keynotes and workshops. Don't be afraid to join conversations. Some of the most valuable experiences come from learning about issues you may never have considered before or hearing perspectives that challenge your own.

Another important part of GIN Day is getting involved. The workshops are designed to be interactive, so don't just sit back and observe - participate! Share your ideas, work with other students and contribute to discussions. Remember, everyone attending is there because they care about creating positive change and your voice is just as valuable as anyone else's.

Finally, remember that GIN Day doesn't end when the closing ceremony does. The ideas, conversations and inspiration you get can continue long after the event is over. Maybe you'll decide to volunteer, start your own initiative, join a club or simply make more sustainable choices in your everyday life. Real change doesn't happen in a single day, it begins with one action and grows from there.

This year’s GIN Day theme is aligned with the UN Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, highlighting the powerful role that volunteers play in building a more sustainable and equitable world. Every day, people around the world give their time, skills and energy to combat challenges such as climate change, inequality, education gaps and wellbeing. These efforts show that real change doesn’t only come from governments or large organisations but begins with individuals who decide to step up and take action.

That’s the idea behind our SustainABILITY Heroes Day. The theme celebrates the everyday changemakers who choose to help their communities and protect the planet. Whether it’s organising a local project, raising awareness, volunteering with an organisation or simply helping others, these actions contribute to the bigger goal of sustainable development.

GIN Day is about encouraging students to see themselves as part of this bigger achievement. You don’t need to be an expert or a world leader to make a difference. Through volunteering, collaboration and community engagement, young people can play a real role in shaping a more sustainable future.

“Don’t be mean, help the world be better than you have ever seen!”

Our slogan for this year is a reminder that positive change often starts with simple choices. Choosing to care, choosing to help and choosing to act. Throughout GIN Day, workshops, talks and activities will explore how volunteering can support the Sustainable Development Goals and how students can turn their ideas into meaningful action.

At its core, this theme reflects what GIN is all about: students taking initiative, supporting one another and working together to build a better future for everyone.

GIN Day is one of the most important events in the GIN calendar. It’s a student organised conference that brings together students from different schools across The Netherlands to explore global issues and take action. GIN Day is about empowering students to become changemakers. Not in the future, but now.

Throughout the day, students participate in interactive workshops, talks and collaborative sessions focused on real world challenges. The first round of workshops are led by students and later in the day, alongside external organisations and experts who work in areas like sustainability, human rights and social impact. This creates a space where students can share their own ideas and learn from others.

One of the highlights of GIN Day is the opening ceremony, which features keynote speakers. Last year, we welcomed the Australian Ambassador to The Netherlands and the Executive Director of PAX, the largest peace organisation in the Netherlands. These speakers share their experiences and insights, helping students understand how global issues connect to real careers, decisions and communities.

GIN Day is also about community and connection. With around 200 students attending from different schools, the event gives the opportunities to meet others who care about similar issues, exchange ideas and collaborate. It creates an environment where students realise they are part of something larger: a network of young people working toward shared global goals.

What makes GIN Day unique is that it is truly student-led. Students are involved in every stage, from organising, leading workshops and presenting projects to working out the logistics and being part of the Press Team.

Ultimately, GIN Day is more than a conference. It’s a space for learning, leadership, and action. This is where ideas grow, perspectives expand and students take meaningful steps toward building a more sustainable and equitable world.

If you’re interested in hosting your own workshop or have an idea you’d like to share, send us a DM, fill out the form on the website or contact us through the emails in the bio.

If you’d like to help organise the event and be part of the logistics team, keep an eye out, sign-ups will be opening soon.

Service learning is often seen as “just another school requirement”, something to tick off a list. But in reality, it’s one of the most meaningful parts of learning, because it connects what we study in class to the real world around us.

Unlike traditional assignments, service learning isn’t only about grades or deadlines. It asks you to notice real problems, understand the people affected by them and take action in a way that’s respectful and informed. It turns learning into something active rather than passive. Something you do with your community, not just about it.

One of the most powerful parts of service learning is that it builds empathy. When you engage with real issues, whether that’s access to education, environmental challenges or social inequality, those topics stop being abstract. You begin to understand the human side behind the statistics and that changes how you think, speak and act.

Service learning also helps you develop practical skills that go far beyond the classroom. Planning projects, communicating with others, managing time and adapting when things don’t go as expected are all experiences that prepare you for future studies and careers. You’re learning how to work with people, not just for grades.

Another important part of service learning is reflection. It encourages you to think critically about impact: What worked? What didn’t? What could be done better next time? This mindset builds responsibility and helps you grow not just as a student, but as a person.

Most importantly, service learning shows you that your actions matter. Even small efforts can contribute to real change when they’re thoughtful and intentional. It helps you realise that you don’t have to wait until you’re older or more “qualified” to make a difference. You can start now, right where you are.

In the end, service learning isn’t about perfection or saving the world. It’s about learning how to care, how to act and how to be part of something bigger than yourself.

Leadership isn’t just about being the loudest voice in the room or having a title next to your name. In GIN, leadership shows up in smaller, more meaningful ways. In how you listen, collaborate, take responsibility and turn ideas into action.

GIN projects naturally push students into leadership roles because they’re student-led from start to finish. From choosing an issue to planning actions and presenting ideas, you’re constantly making decisions that affect others. This builds confidence not through authority, but through ownership. You learn to trust your ideas and stand behind them.

Working in a team also strengthens communication and collaboration skills. You learn how to divide tasks fairly, manage different opinions and support each other when things don’t go exactly as planned. Leadership here isn’t about doing everything yourself, it’s about helping the group move forward together.

GIN projects also teach adaptability. Plans change, timelines shift and obstacles come up. Strong leaders don’t panic when this happens, they problem-solve. Whether it’s rethinking an activity, adjusting goals or finding new resources, you learn to respond thoughtfully rather than giving up.

Another key part of leadership is empathy. GIN projects often focus on real-world issues affecting real people. Understanding different perspectives, listening to communities and acting respectfully helps you develop emotional intelligence. A skill just as important as confidence or organisation.

Finally, GIN helps students learn how to communicate impact. Presenting to peers, teachers or a Shark Tank builds public speaking skills and teaches you how to explain your ideas clearly and persuasively. You learn how to tell a story, back it up with evidence and inspire others to care.

For some students, this growth doesn’t stop at just one project. If GIN feels like something you genuinely enjoy, there’s also the opportunity to step up as a GIN Leader next year. Leadership sign-ups and interviews will take place near the end of the year, giving you the chance to support future projects, guide teams and help shape the GIN experience for others.

Leadership through GIN isn’t about being perfect or being in charge. It’s about growth. By the end of a project, you don’t just have a finished product; you’ve built skills that carry into school, future careers and life beyond the classroom.

Fundraising can feel intimidating at first. Asking people or organisations for money isn’t something most of us are used to doing. But when it’s done thoughtfully and with purpose, it becomes less about “asking for money” and more about inviting others to support a meaningful cause.

The first step is clarity. Before reaching out to anyone, make sure you understand why you’re fundraising and what the money will be used for. People are much more likely to support you when they know exactly what their contribution will help achieve. Be specific. Instead of saying “we’re raising money for sustainability,” explain what the money will fund: materials, transport, workshops or outreach.

Next, think about who you’re asking. Local businesses, community organisations, parents or school body or faculty are often more open to supporting student-led projects, especially if the project connects to their values. Do some light research so your request feels intentional rather than generic.

When you reach out, keep your message clear, respectful and genuine. Introduce yourselves, explain your project in a few sentences and share why it matters. It helps to explain what makes your project impactful. Who it helps, how it connects to the community and what change it aims to create. You can also mention what supporters receive in return, such as recognition, social media shoutouts or being featured in a presentation or event.

Remember that sponsorship doesn’t always have to mean money. Some organisations may offer materials, expertise, space or time instead and that can be just as valuable. Be open to different forms of support.

Rejection is normal and it’s not personal. Some organisations simply don’t have the capacity to help and that’s okay. Thank them anyway, professionalism matters and leaves a good impression.

Finally, always follow up. If someone donates or supports your project, thank them and keep them updated on the impact they helped create. Sharing results builds trust and makes future collaboration more likely.

Fundraising isn’t about selling, it’s about storytelling, connection and showing that your idea is worth believing in. When you approach it with purpose and confidence, people will want to be part of what you’re building.

When you’re planning a GIN project, it’s easy to think you need a huge budget or special tools. The truth is, our school already has plenty of resources. You just have to know how to find and use them. Learning to use what’s already around you makes your project stronger, easier to run and more realistic.

1. People Are Your Greatest Resource

Teachers, older students, GIN Leaders and Advisors are full of knowledge. Subject teachers can help you check facts, share materials or suggest ways to improve your project. Administrators and staff can provide access to spaces, equipment or contacts in the community. Don’t be afraid to ask, most people are happy to help if you show initiative.

2. Spaces and Equipment

Our school has more than classrooms. Think about the plaza, library, computer labs, science labs, art rooms, gyms or even the cafeteria. These spaces can host workshops, displays or activities. Equipment like projectors, cameras, 3D printers or recycling bins can make your project more interactive without extra cost.

3. Existing Clubs and Groups

Partnering with other student groups (like the eco-club, Peace People at Work, Connectors or Student Council) can help you reach more people, share responsibilities or get advice from those who have run successful projects before. Collaboration can save time and energy while expanding your project’s impact.

How to Ask Effectively

Be clear and polite. Explain what you need, why it matters and how it will help your project succeed. Show that you’ve already done the planning. Adults are more likely to support well-prepared students.

By recognizing and using the resources already available at school, your project becomes more practical, impactful and easier to manage. You don’t need everything from outside, sometimes the best tools are right under your nose.

Group work can either feel perfect…or a mess. We’ve all been in teams where everything just clicks or where one person ends up doing everything at 1 am. The difference usually isn’t luck, it’s mindset, communication and how you choose to work together.

1. Understand Each Other’s Strengths

Every group has a mix of skills: organisers, ideas generators, tech people, designers, confident speakers, researchers. Instead of forcing everyone to do the same thing, divide roles based on what people naturally enjoy or excel at. It makes the whole project smoother and way less stressful.

2. Set Clear Goals, but keep them flexible

Agree on what you want the final outcome to look and feel like. Not a rigid checklist, just the big picture. When everyone knows the direction, small decisions become easier and disagreements shrink.

3. Share the Work Fairly, not evenly

“Evenly” isn’t always “fair.” Someone who’s great at editing might finish that task in 20 minutes, while someone else might take an hour. The goal is that everyone contributes meaningfully, not equally, based on their strengths and availability.

4. Keep Everything Visible

Shared docs, shared slides, shared notes. When the whole group can see what’s happening, you avoid last-minute surprises and mysterious missing files. It also helps everyone feel included.

5. Support Each Other Instead of Competing

A group project isn’t a race to prove who’s the best. Celebrate good ideas, build on each other’s strengths and help when someone is stuck. Positivity spreads quickly, but so does negativity.

6. Remember the Goal: A Team You’d Work With Again

A good group isn’t just one that finishes the project, it’s one you’d happily team up with in the future. If you can walk away feeling heard, respected and proud of what you made together, that’s a win.

As school finishes on Friday and the winter break begins, it’s easy to slip straight into holiday mode, surrounded by gifts, food, celebrations and time off. Even though we all absolutely deserve the rest, the festive season is also a good moment to slow down, reflect and be a little more mindful about how we celebrate.

Gratitude is a good place to start. Appreciating time with family, a warm meal or just having the chance to take a break from school, acknowledging what we already have can change how we think about the holidays. It reminds us that joy doesn’t always come from buying more, but from noticing what’s already there.

The holidays are also a time when waste tends to increase. Extra packaging, fast fashion gifts and food waste rapidly increases. Being sustainable doesn’t mean cancelling celebrations but rather making small, mindful choices. Reusing gift wrap, choosing second-hand or meaningful gifts, sharing meals thoughtfully or just taking only what you’ll eat can make a real difference.

Winter break can also be a chance to reconnect with people and with yourself. Taking walks, helping out at home, checking in on friends or volunteering locally can make the season more meaningful. Mindfulness isn’t about doing everything perfectly but about being aware of how your actions affect others and the world around you.

If you’re part of GIN, this break is also a great moment to reflect on your project. You don’t need to work on it constantly but noticing issues in your community, thinking about ideas or taking inspiration in everyday life can be very insightful. Some of the best project ideas come when you’re not actively looking for them.

So as the year ends, take the break you’ve earned. Celebrate, rest and enjoy the season but do it with intention, gratitude and care for the world around you.

We’ll see you in the new year, refreshed and ready to keep thinking globally and acting locally. 🍀

Posters and videos are the classic projects…but they’re starting to feel overused. When everyone is doing the same thing, your message blends in instead of standing out. However, there are many other creative ways to communicate ideas, inspire action and bring attention to issues you care about.

1. Interactive Displays

Instead of telling people about an issue, let them experience it. Create a walk through display, a puzzle or a physical object that people can touch, open or explore. Interactivity makes your message more memorable than any poster ever could.

2. Live Demonstrations or Pop Up Exhibits

Host a two-minute demo on the plaza, a mini-workshop during lunch or a pop-up stand showing how something works. This could be low waste alternatives, eco-friendly habits or mental health grounding techniques. Quick, surprising and attention grabbing.

3. Student-Run Challenges

People love participating in something. Launch a “7 Day Zero Waste Challenge,” “Screen-Free Evening,” or “Kindness Week.” Provide prompts each day and encourage students to try one small action. Participation spreads your message better than posters ever will.

4. Podcasts or Audio Stories

Not everyone wants to watch a video, but lots of people are happy to listen. Create a short podcast episode featuring interviews, stories or expert insights. Share it through QR codes around school through the various platforms available to you (ISH Vibes, Google Classroom, Instagram etc).

5. Graphic Storytelling

Comic strips, illustrated timelines or visual storytelling boards bring personality and creativity to serious topics. They’re fun to read and accessible to all ages.

6. Mini-Booklets

A DIY booklet (hand-drawn or digital) feels more personal and thoughtful than a poster. You can leave them in classrooms, the library or the canteen for students to pick up and read.

A Shark Tank presentation is your one chance to prove that your project is thoughtful, realistic and ready to make a change. Remember that your idea will affect real people, ones you want to help. Try to see the issue from their perspective. This kind of sensitivity and awareness keeps your project relevant and respectful.

Use the research done during the MISO phase to build credibility. Summarise your key findings into some bullet points on the slides. This includes what you observed, who you spoke to and what evidence you found that proves this need exists. Give us evidence of these findings, visuals always have more of an impact than just plain text.

When presenting the pitch itself, focus on the problem, the approach you plan to take and the change you expect. Make your goal SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound) and keep it short, with colour-coded elements that makes it easier for us to review it. Complementarily, include an action plan that assigns tasks and deadlines, dividing responsibility within a time period.

Presentation matters, but choose to be clear over flashy. Deliver your slides calmly by explaining the needs, your plan and how you want to measure the success. Be honest about the risks and limitations because we truly respect realistic ideas and teams. After the presentation, look over the feedback provided and use it. Good teams use critique like a free consultancy session, note what to change and then edit your plan accordingly.

A strong Shark Tank shows us you’ve done the thinking and set a realist path to maximum impact. Keep it focused, evidence-backed and action oriented. Don’t forget to share your Shark Tank slides and action plan with your GIN leader and advisor so we can support and track your progress.

You have probably heard of the GIN slogan, “Think Globally, Act Locally” in GIN meetings, assemblies or SDG workshops. It’s not just a quick saying, it is really how change happens. Usually, we become overwhelmed by the huge scale of global issues in the world when we think of poverty, climate change, inequality and clean energy. It can be scary to even think that one person or one school can make a real impact on these challenges the whole world faces. However, every global issue has a local issue and it is here that students can take local action.

When you think globally, you begin to see issues at a scale. You start to learn how food waste affects global hunger, how gender stereotypes affect global opportunities and how plastic pollution affects oceans everywhere and that's the scale of the problem and importantly, why does it matter. Global thinking gives your project purpose, it explains why your small action is important.

“Acting locally” is the component that transforms awareness into action. You do not need to jump on an airplane and travel halfway around the world to take on global challenges. You can minimise food waste in your school cafeteria; you can create a mental health awareness project in your year group; you could start a recycling project in your neighborhood; or you could teach younger students skills they won't have the chance to learn in school. All of these local actions improve your immediate community and when you add them up with thousands of schools across the world, they create a global community of change.

The GIN network works because you are not acting alone. Your project may seem small, but schools in dozens of countries are working on the same projects. And when you multiply many of these “small” local projects in hundreds of schools, you are moving the global lever faster than any one organisation ever could. That is why the slogan is so powerful; it reminds us that every meaningful change no matter how big starts with one community taking the lead. So, the next time you choose a project related to the SDGs, please remember you are not simply taking action for your school, you are taking action as part of a worldwide movement of young changemakers, with one local action at a time.

Join us for a wonderful afternoon outdoors with GIN as we help reforest our country! On Wednesday, December 17th from 14:30 to 16:30, we’ll be heading to the Ockenburgh Estate for a hands-on tree sapling harvesting event in collaboration with Meer Bomen. This is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and make a real difference - by collecting saplings from areas where they can’t grow into full trees, we’ll be giving them a new home where they can thrive and contribute to a greener future.

It counts as a short-term Service Activity. We’ll meet at the Dunea waterpump at the crossing in front of the Villa, so don’t forget to wear weather-appropriate clothes, bring a water bottle, lunch, your working gloves and a spade. Parents, partners, and siblings are also welcome to join. Be sure to sign up by Friday, December 12th.

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/AvmdmAN9mjoXHVfQ6

Recently, the green movement in the Netherlands has begun accelerating. One organisation that has seen tremendous growth is Meer Bomen Nu. Started directly by grassroots organisers from Stichting MEERGroen, the organisation has a simple yet grandiose mission of simply “planting more trees.” A small local project that began in the Haarlemmermeer municipality, Meer Bomen Nu now has a national scope focused on combating climate change and advocating for biodiversity.

The seeds of Meer Bomen Nu were planted back in 2020. MEERGroen had begun its own initiative to transplant tree saplings acquired from nurseries and started creating volunteer registrations for this project. As resulting plants were getting tended to, the initiative’s work caught the attention of Urgenda (an environmental platform). Farmers from Urgenda coordinated planting 50,000 saplings in nurseries. This was a successful venture, which would ultimately facilitate a larger vision. By the end of 2020, Meer Bomen Nu met, and surpassed, its initially ambitious target of one million trees and shrubs. The hashtags that supported that growth, such as #redeenperenboom ("reason for a pear tree"), helped to support the engagement from the environmental community.

The value of their work is incalculable. Trees are vital to carbon storage, soil preservation and fighting air pollution. Their work is connected to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land. Meer Bomen Nu is addressing climate change by reforesting large areas of the country and providing citizens with opportunities to plant trees. In addition, they are establishing a sense of place and connection to nature for citizens.

Every year, GIN students have the chance to make a real impact, not just by talking about global issues, but by acting on them. With 17 Sustainable Development Goals to choose from, it can be difficult to pick a project that’s both achievable and meaningful. It makes it easier if you think deeply about what matters to you and how that connects to the community.

Take a step back and ask yourself a few questions.

• What issues do I genuinely care about?

• What problems do I see in my school?

• What skills or interests could I use to help others?

• Who could benefit from my project and in what way?

• Will this project create lasting change?

Once you've discovered your interests, identify a real need. Global goals are connected to local issues everywhere, there are community-level challenges related to poverty, hunger, equality, clean energy and education that are waiting to be solved. What is missing? Maybe the school doesn't offer enough access to mental health resources; or maybe the cafeteria is throwing away food; or maybe there are not enough inclusive activities for all students. The best projects are those that are focused on something specific that could be improved and take initiative to try to improve it.

Then think about how you can utilise resources near you. Start small and be realistic, your project doesn't have to change the world, only a piece of it. Use what is around you, school facilities and staff, social media, local organisations and the student community. Working together can be more powerful - sometimes partnering with an NGO, local business or even another student group can help your efforts in a way that will really enhance your project.

Ultimately, take action and go beyond posters and videos. For instance, instead of just posters about food waste, create a composting system with food scraps.

If you are feeling inspired but don't know how to get started, then check out our Instagram post on ready-to-try ideas based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.