Sponsor of diversity and ambition

Just like Nedlin, the United World College Maastricht (UWCM) has the ambition and will-power to build something beautiful from the ground up. At this college, students are not just prepared for their final exam, they also learn how to be caring world citizens and treat each other and their community with respect, so they can change the world. To support them in this, Nedlin has chosen to sponsor UWC Maastricht for three years.

In Chapeau Magazine, Sandra van den Tillaard, Director of Advancement, says: "UWC Maastricht is a special school with a beautiful mission: to use education as a power to make the world more peaceful and sustainable. From the two hundred students who live on our campus, sixty percent are receiving a partial or full scholarship. They are selected in 150 different countries, based on promise and potential. We try to make our student community as diverse as possible. This means that we select students with as many different nationalities, cultures and religions as possible, but we also focus on a wide socio-economic diversity. Of course, we also welcome students from (post) conflict areas and refugee camps. This is a costly ambition. That is why we are looking for individuals, small or big companies, associations and equity funds who can help us. Every amount is welcome. As Stichting UWC Maastricht we are a Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling or ANBI (Public Benefit Organisation), meaning that donations are fully tax-deductible. Of course, we provide transparency about how the money is spent. Furthermore, our donors receive frequent updates and they are invited for special events".

Why sponsor?

At UWC Maastricht, students are not just prepared for their final exams, they also learn how to be caring world citizens and treat each other and their community with respect, so they can change the world. A great example of the is the project KUVAKA. As a part of this project, Trevor Marimbire and Sadiq Dabire went back to their home country Zimbabwe during the summer holiday, to teach students at the St. Rupert Mayer’s Mission School how they can make a positive contribution to their community. Van den Tillaard: "With a donation, you can change a student’s life. A donation will also have a positive impact on the area where the student is from, as well as the community here. Because are students make a social contribution to the local community for at least three hours a week, for instance with the Dierenambulance (animal rescue), the Salvation Army and the asylum seekers’ centre."

Interesting for companies

It can be very interesting for partners to meet students from other cultures. Van den Tillaard: "One of our relations, a global company, was interested in the vision of our students on certain themes such as sustainability and knowing the young generation’s view of the company as a potential future employer. We organised a dinner, during which each of the twenty-five directors of this company were paired with two students. Over dinner, they talked extensively. The company was very enthusiastic, especially about the open-mindedness and the creativity of the students. At the moment I am in talks with other companies who are also interested in this."

Nedlin, proud sponsor UWC Maastricht

Nedlin is a great example of a local family company that is sponsoring UWC Maastricht out of a sense of local involvement. Luuk de Win and his brother Stef are third generation owners of Nedlin, a laundry facility and linen rental company for the hospitality, healthcare and industrial sector. The company was founded sixty-five years ago, and by now operating all across the Netherlands and the Euregio. In honour of this anniversary, Nedlin wanted to organise a celebration. Luuk de Win: "Instead of getting a present, we wanted to do something for society, something that reflects the ambitions of our company. Our motto is “A new day, new opportunities”, so we were looking for a local charity that makes a difference. During our visit to UWC Maastricht we felt the dynamic right away. One of my favourite things is their motto: 'UWC celebrates the difference'. Here you will find the future, the people who will make the difference when it comes to world peace and the environment. This made me very enthusiastic. Just like at our company, you get involved with all social groups here, people work in an international environment, and there is the ambition and will-power to build something from the ground up. This mentality matches well with us, that as why we have committed ourselves as sponsors for UWC Maastricht for a period of three years". Van den Tillaard: "Of course a longer commitment like this is not required, but we do prefer it with an eye on continuity. Thanks to the sponsoring of Nedlin, is Sama Saleem (17) from Iraq started her education last September, and she is now living on the campus in Maastricht. Because she saw the way women were getting limited options, she uses art as a form of expression to address social issues. She was one of the founders of the school newspaper, she was involved in a project to counter animal abuse, and she has frequently been volunteered in various projects in her home country. Thanks to Nedlin, she has a chance of a completely different future. There is no greater gift!."

This article has also been published in Chapeau Magazine.