Stijn lives Rotterdam South and studied Business Administration at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. After graduating, he worked part-time in a restaurant and as a project assistant in a youth centre. He also volunteers at De Buurtbuik, where free meals are cooked.
The Man Up Club is a discussion group in which men can talk to each other about societal expectations of men. There is also an opportunity to discuss socially relevant themes, reflect on the role of men, and the expectations placed on them. “The idea is to bring men together as a community and learn from each other's experiences. We meet online once a month on Mondays. It came about from my own need to connect with other men and have these kinds of conversations,” says Stijn.
Stijn has observed that young men on social media are influenced by figures such as Andrew Tate. While the conversation about masculinity is becoming more polarised, the discussion group provides a space for nuance and vulnerability. “As men, we can benefit greatly from this, precisely because our role is changing. We no longer need to be solely breadwinners, and our conversations with each other don't have to focus solely on that. Our role also involves caring, which can be difficult. It's hard to figure that out alone. That's why it's important to come together so that we can learn more about just being and feeling. The topics discussed are diverse. We had a session about our fathers, but also about consent and performance pressure.”
Trust and depth
The Future Makers Grant is awarded annually to exceptional Honours programme students at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences with outstanding plans for the future. As part of the programme, students work on professional projects alongside their studies, collaborating with students from other programmes, lecturers, and representatives from organisations and companies. This gives students a broader perspective and helps them to develop personally and professionally.
The Future Makers Grant enables them to get off to an ambitious start. This year, the jury awarded the prize to the Man Up Club for being a powerful example of socially relevant social entrepreneurship. The prize comes with a cash award of €5,000.
Stijn intends to use this funding to expand the men's circle and get a physical location. “I miss the power and depth of a community because everything is online. It's harder to build trust and engage meaningfully in conversations.” Stijn also intends to use the grant to develop his skills as a facilitator by taking training courses.
Snowball Effect
Although the participating men come from his own network, Stijn emphasises that the Man Up Club is open to everyone. “You have to start somewhere. It starts with sensitive men who already feel the need for a deeper connection. There are already men's circles out there, but they ask a fee. This is a new concept because it is accessible to everyone. The grant gives me the tools to break the ice and encourage men who are undecided about the club. It's about how we can talk about topics related to masculinity in a group setting.”
What is Stijn's dream for the future? “If I can touch just one person, I'll be happy. I believe in a snowball effect. For me, it's about creating connections. I hope that men will dare to do that: To be open. To be vulnerable. Ultimately, I hope that there will be room for that in society as well. I hope I can contribute to that.”