When Evelyne Peeters was in high school, she started to rebel against the system. Actually, she imploded and stopped doing homework after she lost interest. She became a sport fanatic instead, which became her outlet. There was one teacher able to inspire her in his own remarkable way: Evelyne in hindsight describes him as a nutty professor. She loved his literature classes from the moment he proposed to act out a classic Dutch text instead of reading and discussing it. Only now she recognizes his astounding creativity as the source of her beliefs about education, inspiration and youth potential. This is one of Evelyne’s small anecdotes…I spent three hours absorbed in many more.
Be The Change is an action based school project Evelyne started a few years ago, to support youngsters realizing their dreams, ideas and ideals. Sometimes it takes some pushing and digging: “We un-learn to trust our inner creativity. I feel an affinity to Ken Robinson’s vision for another type of educating our future generation. I am also gnawing at the Dutch educational system”, Evelyne explains. The project volunteers ask children about their motivation and drives and what they want to change, be it something small around them or something bigger ‘out there’. After peeling off the first layer of politeness the free minds pop out with fantastic ideas. “It comes down to asking youngsters one ultimate question again and again: “What do you really want?”.” With passion written all over her, Evelyne tells me about the successes this program has already had.
Visiting the first TEDxAmsterdam last year inspired Evelyne to approach Jim Stolze and suggest a combination of the Be The Change Subjects and the TEDxAmsterdam Format. As it turned out great minds think alike and around the world several TEDx-organizers dreamed of TEDx-events that featured young people and their dream. In 2010 TED officially launched TEDxYouth and Jim and Evelyne decided to create a dedicated team to organize TEDxYouth@Amsterdam. Evelyne explains: “This edition is only the beginning. We are going to thrust a missile packed with inspiration into the Netherlands, you won’t believe! Two hundred enthusiastic young people realizing their dreams… I will personally ensure a follow up event before TEDxYouth 2011. We should spread all this in the world, it’s extremely inspiring!”
One life lesson Evelyne has learned from working with children is that we need to treat them as equals. “We can learn so many important lessons from our children and the way they view the world. It’s two-directional!” In her worldview there can never be a senior to junior relationship. With a big smile she enlightens me on the details of a happiness project involving teenagers teaching the elderly how to be happy. The youngsters literally organized lectures in retirement homes on the steps to happiness. In return, the elderly residents shared their valuable life experiences with the new generation. Every participant in the project is said to have learned from this exchange both mentally and spiritually.
Asking Evelyne why initiatives such as TED and its spin-offs like TEDxYouth are happening now, she thinks it’s because of the zeitgeist of positivity. People all over the world feel a need to change our systems radically, unleashing an unseen force of energy. She started Be The Change and it matches similar movements. That’s why she collaborates with TEDx, War Child and dance4life: “The concepts just fit.”
The main message Evelyne wants to convey to the youngsters is that anything you want in life really is possible. One just needs to take effort! As the founder of this inspiring event she serves as an ideal example. I have never seen the right woman in the right place more than Evelyne giving her all for TEDxYouth@Amsterdam.
TEDxYouth Theme Song
The TEDxYouth Amsterdam team has created a theme song and accompanying video for TEDxYouthDay — the song is titled “We will change everything” and gives a voice to the young generation. The lyrics are based on quotes from kids who share their dreams and what they would change if they ruled the world. The chorus is a creative interpretation of the TEDTalk by Adora Svitak (adults created all these problems, isn’t it time to listen to kids for the solution?). In the words of the song: ”The mess may be yours, but we’ll get us out”. TEDxYouth delegates world wide are asked to assist in completing the video clip with their own sounds and images! Read the instructions and contribute to the the pilot clip below!
TEDxYouth Amsterdam takes place on November 20 in Nemo. Visit the TEDxYouth Amsterdam website for more information (in Dutch). The TEDxYouth program is in Dutch (morning) and English (afternoon), and includes lectures and workshops. TEDxYouth has a special program for schools.
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