AIESEC in the Netherlands Blog
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Your exchange packing list
As the summer vacation is approaching, so are many volunteering projects and internships. But what to pack on such a new exciting experience? Even if you have been abroad many times and are an expert in packing, there are sure to be moments when you miss a thing or two. To help you have the best preparation for your project, or any other vacation, we made a special AIESEC exchange packing list!
Does money make us happy? An answer from positive psychology
It’s an age-old question, and we tend to think that the answer is yes. We believe that once we make a little bit more money, we will be a little happier in turn, too. However, according to decades of research in positive psychology, the study of happiness and human potential…
Inspired, empowered and ready for change: The story of four young leaders in the contemporary world
When we talk about young leaders, people quickly think of Greta Thunberg or Mark Zuckerberg, due to their media attention or Greta’s well-known, activist speeches on climate change. But more quietly, the world is packed with young, inspirational leaders, trying to create a more stable, sustainable and inclusive world for future generations, minority groups or the society they are part of.
Studeren in het buitenland of stage in het buitenland? De voordelen van een stage.
Misschien heb je dat nog niet overwogen, maar dit is zeker (ook) een geweldige verrijking van je studententijd. In deze blog lees je waarom!
Discovering culture in Morocco: An exchange to Marrakech
When I decided to participate in the Nour project of AIESEC, I felt like I did something impulsive yet brave. I never went abroad on my own before. I always had people I could depend on like friends and family. This time I wanted to challenge myself by doing this project on my own, and I wanted to discover and embrace another culture.
How finger-pointing could be harmful for sustainable behaviour
Do you go by plane when you go on summer vacation? Do you eat avocados? This is what finger-pointing is and feels like. Even if you do make a small impact by not having/using a car, then the other person might point out some other things you could also still be doing to make an even greater impact. However, this is not how it should be.
3 Inspiring TED talks on inequality
We’ve pulled together some inspiring TED talks for you to watch about inequality. The speakers in these videos describe their view on inequality and what the world needs in order to change this. Let these people inspire you, to create new ways of thinking about inequality and the road to changing this.
4 Tips to make your CV stand out
On average, recruiters spend 5 to 7 seconds screening a CV before deciding whether to continue with the applicant or not. It equals the average time that we spend looking at an Instagram post on our feed. So, here are some tips that can help your CV stand out in a large pool of applicants.
My AIESEC volunteering project in Italy
In January 2020 I participated in an AIESEC Project on environment and sustainability in Castellana Grotte, Italy. I was lucky to stay six weeks in one of the most beautiful small villages I have been to. My work was about teaching the kids in the local Highschool on the UN SDGs and sustainability. My fellow AIESEC students were so kind to pick me up in Bari. They made sure I was safe and showed me how to travel to my destination.
How an ambition to stop discrimination has led to 14 years of exchange to the Arab world
Let’s go back in time to when the Nour Project was set up. These were the years after 9/11 and the death of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh. The founders of the Nour Project noticed that tensions between the Western world and Arab world were growing.
Handling stress of working from home
Many people regard working from home as an overall goal for their work-life balance. They work with the help of evolving technologies such as Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, Slack, Google Hangouts and cloud computing. Recently, the work from home job force has gotten a push by the current global coronavirus pandemic.
A story of a solo female traveller
I have traveled to 35 countries so far, of which sixteen as a solo traveler. In my opinion, you experience so much more when you travel alone, since you rely way more on the social connections you make on the way.
Organising the Global Health Cycle
Hi! My name is Julia and I am the Selection, Preparation and Reintegration Manager of the Medicine Project. Roel Hulsman (the SPR Manager of the Health Project) and I created the Global Health Cycle to keep our exchange participants engaged with AIESEC in times of...
The power of cultural intelligence
A third type of intelligence, only introduced after the start of the 21st century, is CQ; Cultural Quotient, or cultural intelligence. Every person’s cultural expression (e.g. their way of speech, beliefs, norms, body language, rituals and so on) are influenced by the cultural society they are or used to be part of. Due to this unique, intrinsic collection of culture every person carries with them, we are all different.
How you can make an impact on your local environment
In order to contribute to making a change we have to start small. Think about your own community or city. Think local. In this blogpost I want to give you some tips on how you can help make a positive change for your community or city.
Connect Youth: Purpose Driven Networking
Covid-19 triggered us to be more creative in finding ways to finding new ways to create value for our members and to make use of the possibilities that the online world has to offer. Hence, we wanted to create an inspiring online network event for our members. An opportunity for them to connect to the national network and to get to know different types of organisations in a valuable way.
Study Abroad or Internship Abroad? The Advantages of an Internship
. Exploring new places and meeting new people are certainly a fun experience and contribute to your personal development. Many students realise this by studying abroad for half a year. Another option is to do a practical exchange in the form of an internship or volunteering job.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change is defined as a shift in the average conditions of global or regional climate patterns over approximately 30 years. This causes global warming and unexpected weather conditions in every country on every continent.
Interview with Jesler, the author of “17 Sweet, Devoted, Generous Monsters – 17 SDG Monsters that Make the World a Better Place”
In October 2020, Jesler van Houdt published a children's picture book based on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. As a current AIESECer in the Netherlands herself, we thought it would be nice to ask Jesler about her inspiration, motivation and...
Sustainable Travelling: How To Travel the World Without Flying
Last month, Anne wrote in her blog that educating yourself about your environmental footprint is a first step in contributing to a more sustainable world. There are several websites that can help you with this, for example this footprint calculator, or this website...
6 Ways to Improve Your Productivity
Ugh, Corona, right? I mean, it has been going through our conversations all year. And this small thing has kept us home for such a long time. OH MY GOD! I felt like my brain had lost its will to work for the longest time. However, this blog will hopefully help you to...
6 Simple Tips to Contribute to a More Sustainable World
We only have one planet. If we continue to behave like we have in the last years, this planet as we know it will not exist for our off-spring. If this misuse of the resources continues in the future, chances are that our planet might become like the other seven...
Una experiencia para nunca olvidar
At the start of July 2019, my sister and I took the big leap to pack our bags and visit our family in Colombia. During this time I was still deciding on doing a volunteering job for AIESEC. It was my luck to have my sister as my AIESEC exchange participant manager....
The Importance of Self Awareness for a Leader
We often try to identify our existence with our position in society, friends and family, our desires of our body and the emotional and intellectual expressions of our mind. For instance, we might introduce ourselves as ‘I am a business administration student, I have...
3 Tips to Stay Motivated During Lockdown
Normally it can be difficult to stay motivated when working or studying. Now, the pandemic forces the most of us to work and study at home, staying motivated can become an even bigger issue. Some important things to keep track of during the pandemic to stay motivated...
Exchange in Sri Lanka
The most incredible and heart-warming experience I had this summer, was working at a school in Sri Lanka. The school is specialized in teaching children with autism and down syndrome. An exceptional aspect to mention about the school, is that the principal is a 70+...
6 Ways to Communicate Effectively
Have you ever wondered how effective your communication is? No matter if you believe that you are an expert or an amateur of communication, improving your ability to communicate is an endless process. In this blog, you will find 6 fundamental ways that will help you...
Leadership in times of crisis
Hi! I’m Sonida, 21 years old and currently studying International Studies at Leiden University. This year, I decided I wanted to challenge myself further by applying for AIESEC Leiden. I’m now the online marketing manager and I’m really liking it thus far. Being able...
6 tips for better time management
Hey, I’m Petra - a Croatian 20-something studying International Business Administration at Tilburg University, Netherlands. I study abroad because I believe international experience has the potential to enrich just about anyone’s life. At the moment, I am a member of...
When Can I Go on Exchange Again?
Traveling alone or living in another country might be one of the things you want to do during your student time or before you get a serious job. Exploring new places and meeting new people are certainly a fun experience and contribute to your personal development....
Sustainable Development Goals in times of coronavirus
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the global goals were set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 and hoped to be achieved in the year 2030. These goals were set in order to tackle and find solutions to various issues such as poverty, climate change...
Why Should You Volunteer?
[ Volunteering seems a waste of time and effort without gaining anything in return to some people, are you one of them? It’s okay if you are, because in this blog we will explain to you why you should consider doing volunteer work and how it will be beneficial to you...
My Experience in Ghana
In the summer of 2019 I participated in the Medicine Project, organised by AIESEC. I got the chance to go to Ghana for 6 weeks to experience the culture and work at the hospital there. Before I left I was already in contact with people from AIESEC in Ghana. They...
My NST Blog experience
How it all started After one year of being part of AIESEC in Tilburg, I was far from done with AIESEC. However, I also felt like I should continue my studies at the University of Tilburg before devoting another year solely to this organization. Therefore, I decided to...
The beauty of core values
“I have learned that as long as I hold fast to my beliefs and values, and follow my own moral compass, then the only expectations I need to live up to are my own.” Michelle Obama Once you join AIESEC, you will soon be asked to define your team values, LC values, or...
How to deal with disappointments?
This is not another Corona-blog. However, as I am writing this piece, I cannot stop thinking about the current pandemic that is happening in the world. Almost everyone in the world has been affected, whether it is large or small. Here in the Netherlands, the biggest...
Brilliant or unethical? On nudging
Have you ever come across a small phrase in supermarkets, hotels, or any other public place that made you change your behaviour? Some chances are designed in a way that you don't even notice that you changed your behaviour. These changes, then, are a ‘nudge’. A what?...
Testimonial: My time in São Paolo, Brazil
A life-changing experience started for me in January 2020. I left behind all the fear and doubts and I said Yes to an adventure, miles away from the Netherlands. I spent 2 amazing months in São Paulo, Brazil, that I can only describe as “unforgettable”. My main...
How to develop your leadership skills with aiesec. – External Relations Manager
What is it like to be part of the world's largest youth-run organisation? To develop yourself in a group of people that inspire you to reach for the stars while being there to catch you in case you fall? In the series "Develop your leadership skills with aiesec.", we...
How to develop your leadership skills with aiesec. – Marketing Manager oGE
What is it like to be part of the world's largest youth-run organisation? To develop yourself in a group of people that inspire you to reach for the stars while being there to catch you in case you fall? In the series "Develop your leadership skills with aiesec.", we...
Detective Dave
Someone, please, call 112! The telephone rings at the police department. Detective Dave answers the phone and he is told to come to a precinct at Warandelaan 2 in Tilburg. After a quick ride, he arrives and gets informed about the committed crime. Apparently, a guy...
How to develop your leadership skills with aiesec. – Team Leader oGE/oGT
What is it like to be part of the world's largest youth-run organisation? To develop yourself in a group of people that inspire you to reach for the stars while being there to catch you in case you fall? In the series "Develop your leadership skills with aiesec.", we...
Viel Spaß in Graz!
An Austrian Adventure My AIESEC experience, an internship with a startup company in the Austrian city Graz, started with the longest Flixbus ride I had ever taken. While sitting in the bus I had plenty of time to imagine how my experience was going to be. Was I going...
SDG 17 – Partnership for the Goals
The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path of equality, desire, and no small amount of passion. Just as important That’s right, this second blog in the SDG series is about SDG 17 – Partnership for the goals. To me, this SDG used...
5 qualities any great leader should have
There are a lot of different leadership styles, all of which work in their own way. Nevertheless, all of these different styles have a few qualities in common. Here you can read about 5 of these central qualities that make you go from a good to a great leader. ....
Proyectarte in Colombia – Memories for life
I strongly believe it is an intense and enriching experience that everyone should have at least once in life! My AIESEC story in Colombia started at the end of September 2019. I decided to apply to a project only a few weeks before leaving and everything went very...
The exciting function of trainee managers
My name is Sophie and I am a Trainee Manager at AIESEC Tilburg. In this blog post, I will tell you what a trainee manager does. Our promise AIESEC wants to make sure that people have the best experience when going on one of the products that we offer (Global...
Collaboration in a culturally diverse world
"Cultural diversity is beautiful and can enhance your organization or your team!" Every organization or company has its own typical culture. A culture can be described as tacit knowledge, which means that it is context-specific, and not easy to transfer the knowledge...
Teaching Simon
A couple of years ago, my mother asked me if I wanted totutor Simon, a boy living across the street. His mother had approached mine because this little boy has had 6 different tutors that year alone already, but none of them were able to explain math to him. Curious...
The wake up call
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” - Leonardo Da Vinci We believe that leadership is the fundamental solution to achieve Peace and Fulfilment of...
SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
''Every small action matters, because when 7 billion people do that thing, it changes the world. '' Back in 2015, the United Nations set specific goals that the world has to meet by 2030 - the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals together...
Welcome to the start-up hub
We all know by now that the start-up world is a very exciting one to work in. Yet, it always seemed a bit farfetched for me to be an entrepreneur and start working for myself. But is this feeling justified? I now think that, once you have a good idea of what you are...
It is okay to be different
Normal - adjective Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected. When you look up normal in the dictionary, this (or anything similar) is the definition that you will get. Although this definition probably wouldn’t surprise you, it is still a pretty vague...
It’s not all about you
Whenever you join AIESEC or go on an AIESEC project, you will hear a lot about the leadership qualities, or LDQ’s in short. AIESEC uses four LDQs to teach people to be more aware about themselves and their environment. One of the four LDQ’s is called world...
How to… A cover letter
How to... A cover letter By Ilona Neve Once you have found that perfect internship and are ready to apply for the position, you have to make sure that your application package is just as perfect. That package definitely includes your resume and a cover letter. But how...
Never forget to love
Never forget to love Transform project in Patras, Greece, 5thMay – 14thJune 2019 By Jingjing Jiang “I was so happy to share my culture with them and show the diversity.” From the Netherlands to Greece – after 4 hours flight plus 3,5 hours by bus I arrived at my...
Exchange Standards – what are they?
Exchange Standards - what are they? By Jesler van Houdt What are the exchange standards? The AIESEC exchange standards are 16 promises from us to you. They describe what you can expect from us once you decide to go abroad with AIESEC. Why does AIESEC have exchange...
Marketing 101
Marketing 101 By Ilona Neve When you look through the AIESEC opportunities portal and search for Global Entrepreneur projects, you come across loads of marketing and business opportunities. Lucky for you if you are interested in doing one of those, but still, you...
Visiting the children of the Aspiration Fund, Vietnam
Visiting the Children of the Aspiration Fund, Vietnam By Marille van de Rijt The children see that there are people who care about them and support them. Arriving in Que Phong, Nghe An, Vietnam During my volunteering project in Vietnam, I had the opportunity to visit...
What does it mean to be an ER-manager in AIESEC?
Every large company or organization has the function of an ER-manager, and so does AIESEC. In this function, it is our task to create and maintain our external relations with potential stakeholders where we can offer and promote our products of Global Volunteer,...
How to engage your audience when holding a presentation
How to engage your audience when holding a presentation By Sofie van de Ven Most of us started giving presentations during our time in the education system. Whether it was in elementary school, or you held off until high school, we’ve all stood in front of a classroom...
My top 8 tips for volunteering with AIESEC
In the months January/February I participated in the “We Speak”-project for Aiesec in Bogotá, Colombia. I taught women from the “Casa de Igualdad” (house of equality) English in the hope for them to become more self-confident and make them stand out from the crowd. It...
Where will I live while I’m abroad?
One of the benefits of volunteering with AIESEC is that you don’t have to worry about your accommodation once you’re abroad. All AIESEC projects provide, and sometimes even cover, a place for you to stay. But what will this place look like? In general, there are two...
Sustainability in the world of start-ups
The world of start-ups is quite an interesting one. It is a world in which people have to be very creative, take on challenges and where they have to make quick decisions. In addition to these things, they also have to make sure that they are operating within a...
Am I qualified to go abroad with AIESEC?
Yes, more likely than not, you are! Anyone interested in having a cross-cultural exchange with AIESEC is younger than 30 years and can finance the experience can go abroad with AIESEC! Cross-cultural exchange AIESEC believes in promoting peace and fulfilment of...
What can an international professional experience teach you?
Living and working abroad can be challenging and starting such an experience on your own can be scary: you will have to get comfortable with a new way of living, make new friends and break with your comfortable routines. But an international professional experience...
My 6½ weeks volunteership in Moshi, Tanzania
AIESEC Kilimanjaro, Women Empowerment My idea to volunteer abroad arose a few days before New Year’s Eve, when I was listing up my resolutions. One of them was to make the most of my long long summer holidays. So, when I went back to uni in January, the first thing I...
5 Tips to Give a Training/Workshop that Sticks
5 tips to give a training or workshop that sticks "Public speaking is a skill you can learn!" It’s something that most of us have had to do one way or another dozens of times: public speaking. Whether it’s a presentation in class, giving a training or speaking at a...
Why do I need to pay 324€ to volunteer with AIESEC?
Why do I need to pay 324€ to volunteer with AIESEC? AIESEC is a not-for-profit, student-run organisation. So why do you need to pay 349€ to volunteer with us? Where does this money go? Let’s break it down! 25€ Deposit Yes, you’ll get this money back! All you have to...
A look at the quick-paced world of start-ups
A look at the quick-paced world of start-ups Imagine you have a great, innovative idea, you have an entrepreneurial spirit, and you are eager to put this idea into practice by starting your own business. First of all, that’s awesome! But this also means that you will...
What happens when I sign up on aiesec.nl?
What happens when I sign up on aiesec.nl? Signing up can sound like a big commitment, right? In the case of aiesec.nl, it isn’t. But what happens when you sign up? And why should you do it? Let’s have a look at it step by step, and you’ll see that signing up to AIESEC...
Meet our IR partners for the Global Talent program!
Meet our IR partners for the Global Talent program! Olá, Hello, Ahoj, Hola, 你好 (Nǐ hǎo), नमस्ते (namaste) - our international relations partners for the Global Talent program are welcoming you! It is important that countries work together as much as possible,...
The Top 5 Secrets to Successful Time Management
The Top 5 Secrets to Successful Time Management It’s one of these things that you’re either simply good at, or that you can’t seem to wrap your head around: time management. But why is time management - something that is crucial in nearly everything you do - such an...
Does going abroad with AIESEC really change you?
Does going abroad with AIESEC really change you? That’s a question which is hard to answer because not only every exchange but also every person is different. Depending on why you want to go abroad, if you are going to do voluntary work, an internship or just...
What is the difference between GV, GE and GT?
Once you start thinking about going abroad with AIESEC, the first step is to pick the product (GV, GE or GT) that fits you best. But how would you know what would suit your wishes? Let’s start with knowing what the products are. The beauty of volunteering Firstly,...
What does it mean to ‘’Develop your entrepreneurial skills?’’
Entrepreneurial skills are a bit of an undefined skillset - many people define these skills differently. Examples of them that are often mentioned are: willingness to learn, ability to listen, creativity, courage, risk-taking, good communication and sales, but there...
How can a Global Talent project boost your career?
Let's start by explaining what a Global Talent project is. A Global Talent (GT) is an internship for young people aiming towards professional career development in a global setting. It is the perfect choice for you when you want to kick-off or boost your career. And...
The World’s Largest Lesson
On the 13th of March, more than 150 AIESEC members throughout the Netherlands gave workshops about the Sustainable Development Goals to Dutch high school students as a part of the ‘World’s Largest Lesson’ initiative. We visited 125 different school classes and spoke...
Plastic is the new black
Order a drink on the streets in Solo (officially named Surakarta) and you will get a plastic cup with a plastic lid, a straw for easy drinking, a plastic bag to protect the cup and one small plastic bag for easy take away. Take a look around and check where you can...
Volunteer? 3 reasons not to volunteer abroad
Last summer I went to Georgia to volunteer in a project hosted by AIESEC. It’s been a very interesting journey with many ups, but certainly many downs too. . Volunteering abroad is not for everybody. It’s a challenging endeavour and through this post, I would like to...
Discovering my purpose in Egypt
AIESEC is a fantastic way to take a great leap beyond your comfort zone and truly submerge yourself into a whole new and completely different way of life. Preparation This year, as the buzz of summer break came ever closer, I decided that I wanted to do something...
All you need is love
Brazil – Smart Project in Florianopolis Introduction Brazil – Florianopolis, 7th of July 11pm. After my 10-hour flight from Lisbon to Brasilia, a clumsy request for a subway sandwich in the little Portuguese I learned 5 minutes earlier, and another 2-hour flight...
Feminism and Islam
Feminism and Islam – a combination that seems to boil from tension. I know how difficult this topic can be: I am a Pakistani girl, grew up in Germany and live in the Netherlands. To analyze this topic, I went to Morocco for 6 weeks to interview people. In the last few...
Living the organisation’s goals to its fullest
A brief story of my experience volunteering for AIESEC in Mendoza, Argentina this summer and how the work of the local committee there provides an encouraging example to all of us Welcoming Culture “Our place is open to anyone that is seeking refuge in our city and...
A message to our generation
"How lucky am I to have found a place and people that made me cry when I left?" The project The interesting thing about AIESEC is that they offer many volunteer programs for many interests. You don’t just volunteer and travel, but you put your knowledge into practice....
Looking behind the façade
Even though I could only spend six weeks in Brazil, I am sure I made a difference in their lives. And they made a difference in mine. I came to Brazil after my first year of university and a lot of enthusiasm to leave my marks in another country far away from Europe....
Expanding my Comfort Zone With AIESEC
Eu te amo Brazil!
I was looking to leave an impact, not to upgrade my CV. Thankfully, AIESEC let me do both. "My experience taught me more than any book could ever teach me, some things have to be seen in person." As a second year business student, I knew it was time for me to start...
Let’s discuss the elephant in the water.
Plastic waste is a huge problem. Every year, 12 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans. It’s time to discuss the elephant in the water. Single-use plastics are a human addiction that we must start facing. Plastic pollution is not only impacting our waters and...
What do “I can” and “I can’t”-sayers have in common?
People who say they can't are usually right. That is what these 6 weeks as an Exchange Participant (EP) in iCare were about for me. We arrived as a diverse and not-yet-cohesive group of young graduates and undergraduates. On our first day in YPAC, the school that we...
“A journey of raising awareness amongst others AND myself.”
Experiencing an international exchange and living abroad always were one of my biggest dreams. However, due to several reasons it never happened during the time that I was a student. When I started working fulltime, I noticed that the desire for a longer travel and...
‘’Welcome to Iran, welcome to my country!’’
One summer in Iran, I went excited but also unknowing what to expect. The hosts, the people from AIESEC, people in the streets, in the metro, in parks, everywhere, everyone was so incredibly welcoming, kind, curious and hospitable. I did not expect this and soon I...
Ghana, the smiling country
Approximately 6000 kilometers away from Holland my AIESEC experience started. Because of my gap year I wanted to do something. Not only travelling but also something related to my study. Then I found the Medicine Project, the perfect combination of learning in a...
What is a Mzungu?
Last year I went to Uganda for an internship. My biggest fear was moving into an unknown country and leaving my family and friends behind. I had to prepare myself six months before departure and on that D-day I was like, … ok this is it! I was really curious about the...
Welcome to your new family
It is around midnight, when I am waiting at Barranquilla airport for someone to pick me up. Due to poor communication about this pick-up and my malfunctioning brain after an 18hr journey, I feel rather small. Fortunately a man points at his phone with a photo of me on...
5 redenen om vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland te doen
Tegenwoordig heb je als jongvolwassenen honderden opties om je zomer door te komen. Je kunt op zuipvakantie naar Lloret, Ibiza of Sunny Beach. Je kunt de hele zomer gaan werken. Of je reist het hele land door om festivals te pakken. Maar steeds meer jongeren kiezen er...
You don’t have to go far to be far from home
With only a six hour drive from the Dutch border, I didn’t expect a major culture shock when starting my internship in Berlin. But even though cultural differences may seem minor in the places closest to home, it are often these small things that determine how...
Living like a local with AIESEC!
During my time in AIESEC I was responsible for sending students aboard on professional internships. The danger with that is that, while searching internships for those students, you might find one that is amazing for yourself. This is exactly what happened to me....
5 reasons to volunteer in Guatemala
My name is Gwen, and this year I got the opportunity to travel to Guatemala to check out AIESEC’s volunteer projects. I fell in love with the country, its culture, and I was amazed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the local AIESECers to make their country a better...
This is how I found out that Moroccans are actually geniuses
Pretty last minute I decided to go to Morocco for the Nour project. Having been to the Middle East before I figured I’d be a perfect candidate. I expected Morocco to be similar to the Middle East, since it has the same religion, language and sort of the same culture....
Get the local vibes
Get the local vibesBy Stijn Vrerik Finally, my trip to South-America has started, with a project in Medellin. Some months before leaving the Netherlands, I tried to learn some Spanish with a self-study course. Unfortunately, at the day of departure, I could probably...
Wat vandaag niet komt, komt morgen
Marokko lijkt geen haast te kennen. Op straat bewegen mensen zich op hun gemakje vooruit. Langzaam, al kletsend met gezelschap gaan ze op weg naar hun bestemming. Vaak komen mensen later op afspraken dan afgesproken. De enkelen die op tijd komen lijken niet...
Gastvrijheid is meer dan een kopje koffie
Hier in Marokko betekent gastvrijheid meer dan het Nederlandse kopje koffie met een plakje ontbijtkoek. Als je bij mensen thuis wordt uitgenodigd krijg je in ieder geval muntthee met 4 suikerklontjes en worden er schaaltjes met eten voor je neergezet. 'Coelie', krijg...
Een groen paspoort
Waar droom je van? Ik vind het altijd super interessant mensen deze vraag te stellen. Ik ben nieuwsgierig naar dromen, en hou er van als mensen iets onverwachts antwoorden. Mensen beginnen te stralen als ze over hun droom vertellen. En als ze niet precies weten wat ze...
Nederlanders zijn toch dik en gelukkig?
'Als mensen eens geen vooroordelen zouden hebben, dan zou de wereld een stukje mooier zijn', zo luidde onze conclusie gisteravond. Het was de conclusie van een gesprek dat ik had met mijn kamergenootje, Oumaima. Een gesprek over vooroordelen, monarchie of republiek en...
Doing a volunteer project has an impact on more than only the local community
Because I’m always eager to give something back to the world, I decided I wanted to do volunteer work in another country. For me this is also the best way to really get to know a country and its culture. People had told me that AIESEC is the perfect organization for...
Six weeks to never forget!
It’s October 28, 2017. I’m getting off my plane at Tan Son Nat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. For the past six weeks I had an amazing time backpacking in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Although I visited beautiful locations and had the time of my life, being in a...
Leadership organization AIESEC educates record number of high school students about SDGs
AMSTERDAM, March 14, 2018 - In 2030, a world without poverty, inequalities, injustice and human-driven climate change: these are, amongst others, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). Leadership organization AIESEC will educate over 2000...
Leiderschapsorganisatie AIESEC onderwijst recordaantal scholieren over Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen VN
AMSTERDAM, 14 maart 2018 - In 2030 een wereld zonder armoede, ongelijkheid, onrecht en onnatuurlijke klimaatverandering: dat zijn onder meer de Duurzame Ontwikkelingsdoelen (SDGs) van de Verenigde Naties (VN). Leiderschapsorganisatie AIESEC gaat vandaag ruim 2000...
“Ik wil mijn broertje terug”
8 december 2017. Het is inmiddels al de laatste week van mijn project in Brazilië. Samen met Antonin en Tiziana heb ik het al vijf weken prima naar m’n zin. Mijn project heet Planet Heroes. Het doel van het project is om kinderen bewust te maken van hun omgeving,...
Healthcare seems like local traffic
When I arrived it was already dark outside, but everything went (surprisingly) smooth; we were picked-up at the airport by car immediately and went to the accommodation, all on a quite road with nice African music on the background. By the time I did not know this...
My first time in Ghana
The moment I walked out of the airport, I was overwhelmed by all the unknown impressions. Everywhere were people looking at us and calling for us. When Luc and I finally found our guide, who would bring us to the place we would call home for the upcoming seven weeks,...
The best last minute decision I could have made!
It was only 6 days before departure that I booked my flight ticket to Amman, Jordan. The couple of days I had left in the Netherlands were just enough to finish my last tasks as an AIESEC board member and to pack my bags. With almost no expectations I got onto the...
How my culture shock turned into an amazing adventure
6 weeks ago, when I was still at home, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was excited to go, but also really nervous. First impressions Then I arrived in Malang. I thought I was experiencing cultural differences: the crowded streets with all the motorcycles,...
5 Reasons to Hire an International Intern
With a giant talent pool that transcends borders across the globe, AIESEC is one of the leading non-profits helping several other organizations, firms and workplaces hire international talent. At a glance, it might appear as if an optimized local recruitment is just...
Why do we need entrepreneurial leadership?
“Since its inception, IE Business School has embraced the entrepreneurial spirit as a core value, and is now an international reference in the field of entrepreneurship” (entrepreneurship.ie.edu). What AIESEC and IE Business School have in common is the commitment...
Transformational Leadership vs Transactional Leadership
Transformational or transactional leadership? Is one better than the other? The concept of transformational leadership was initially introduced by leadership expert and presidential biographer James MacGregor Burns. According to Burns, transformational leadership can...
TEDx talks that inspire a different perspective on World Peace
We live in a world where seemingly small things like intolerance and misunderstanding of people’s differences have caused large-scale conflict, destruction and even wars. World peace can seem like an impossible thing, but we at AIESEC interpret it a little...
Living Diversity for World Peace
The World’s Very Real Need for Cultural Understanding AIESEC emerged from a period in time when cultural understanding was at an all-time low. In the years following the Second World War, the whole of the European continent was ravaged to the ground. Each nation was...
Werken in het buitenland: 10 verschillende manieren van zakendoen
Een baan in het buitenland; een unieke ervaring die niet alleen goed op een cv staat maar ook voor de rest van het leven bij blijft. Daarom hebben wij vast verschillende zakelijke protocollen op een rijtje gezet waardoor jij er straks nóg meer uit springt bij jouw...
Vier belangrijke leiderschapskwaliteiten onder twintigers: Hoe jij als twintigjarige student nieuwe vormen van leiderschap kan creëren
Wanneer men spreekt over een definitie van leiderschap denkt men vaak een hiërarchische bedrijfscultuur en wordt leiderschap als intimiderend ervaren. Door de steeds sneller veranderende processen in de bedrijfswereld (globalisering) lijkt deze leiderschapsstijl...
Tussenjaar? Zó vul je dat in!
Je hoort het steeds vaker: mensen die een tussenjaar nemen tijdens, of na, hun bachelor. Niet heel gek vinden wij. Wanneer je aan één stuk door studeert, ben je namelijk al op vroege leeftijd student af. Dat klinkt misschien aantrekkelijk, maar er zitten de nodige...
5 bizarre delicatessen in het buitenland
Het leuke van reizen is dat je elke keer in een totaal andere cultuur belandt… In Nederland kijken we niet raar op van haring met uitjes, bitterballen en kroketten uit de muur, maar niet in elke cultuur zijn de delicatessen zo onschuldig als hier! Alhoewel het...
Experience Story: an AIESEC Exchange to Kuching, Malaysia
Boarding the airplane, that would first bring me to Singapore and then to Kuching in Malaysia, I was very much doubting my decision to leave Amsterdam for over 6 weeks; missing out on a few of my best friends’ birthdays and leaving everything I know to dive into this...
5 redenen waarom vrijwilligerswerk in het buitenland een onvergetelijke ervaring is
Lesgeven aan kinderen in de Filipijnen, voorlichting geven over ziekten in Indonesië of mensen bewust maken over het milieu in Brazilië. Reizen, tegelijkertijd anderen helpen en jezelf ontwikkelen. De wereld een stukje mooier achter laten. Dat klinkt perfect, toch?...
4 redenen waarom je als student een internationaal congres zou moeten meemaken
Een internationaal congres; bij veel mensen roept dit een beeld op waarin zakenmensen urenlang discussiëren met elkaar en lange presentaties houden... Maar is dit wel zo? Als student ben ik, Lunah Smits, eveneens naar een internationaal congres geweest. Het...
4 belangrijke skills die je ontwikkelt tijdens een stage in het buitenland
Een stage in het buitenland is de ideale manier om jezelf professioneel te ontwikkelen. Het is een plek om op jezelf te reflecteren -hoe presenteer ik mijzelf- en je hebt de mogelijkheid om tijdens je stage te vallen en weer op te staan, nog voordat het echte werkende...
Experience Story Hanoi
Experience Story: Thu-Yên Pham, Hanoi, Vietnam After my graduation, I wanted to travel through South-East Asia and do some voluntary work in Vietnam. The main reason for seeking voluntary work in Vietnam was that I wanted to learn more about my background. The project...
8 things you should know about YouthSpeak
YouthSpeak is a global youth movement and youth insight survey powered by AIESEC. We are focused on understanding the hopes and challenges surrounding various issues which involve young people like us. We are uniting a generation of young leaders who aren’t afraid to...
My Ghana Experience
After finishing my second year in medicine in the Netherlands, I felt like I wanted to experience more somewhere else in the world. I’m very interested in tropical medicine and Ghana was one of the country’s that offered a medical project in a tropical environment. A...
5 ways to help combat climate change
The effects of climate change clearly come to light in the forms of an increase of natural phenomenons such as earthquakes, floods and tropical cyclones. No longer can we deny that climate change is one of the most pressing global issues. People often feel like you...
5 Inspiring Start-ups in the Netherlands that Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals
[The world is more and more concerned about the sustainability of our wonderful world, and that is great! Four years ago, the United Nations came with an initiative, named The Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known...
4 Reasons Why You Should Work Abroad
1. Personal Growth Moving overseas or even working abroad temporarily is great at ripping you out of your comfort zone. Change isn’t something that is comfortable for us as humans, but we do know that it’s good for us. At what other time will you grow as much as when...
5 tips voor je eerste stagedag
Je hebt je stage in de pocket, maar nu is het tijd om jezelf te bewijzen en de ideale stagiair te zijn! Begin jij binnenkort aan je eerste stagedag? Lees dan hier 5 tips om de eerste dag vlekkeloos te laten verlopen! 1. Neem initiatief Alhoewel alles op de eerste dag...
The Sustainable Development Goals
‘We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it’ – Barack Obama Climate change is not the only topic that the United Nations worry about. Therefore they have developed the Sustainable Development...
5 redenen om een bestuursjaar te doen
Je hoort het wel vaker: studenten die zeggen dat het gat tussen werken na de studie en het studeren zelf toch wel erg groot is. De verantwoordelijkheid neemt enorm toe en ineens wordt er van je verwacht dat je allerlei kwaliteiten in de praktijk kan toepassen. Denk...
5 Inspiring Start-ups in the Netherlands that Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The world is more and more concerned about the sustainability of our wonderful world, and that is great! Two years ago, the United Nations came with a initiative, named The Sustainable Development Goals. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as...
De 6 meest inspirerende leiders van de 20e eeuw
Wie waren de meest invloedrijke en inspirerende leiders van de vorige eeuw? Wie hebben ons dagelijks denken of manier van leven dusdanig veranderd dat we nu nog regelmatig naar deze personen verwijzen? Wij zetten onze top 6 voor je op een rijtje. 1. Albert Einstein...
Cultural Travels Through Mexico
Mexico’s colonial heritage is a rich and diverse tapestry composed of European and indigenous roots, combining old traditions with modern practices, and which offers foreign travellers an opportunity to experience the unusual among the familiar. Mexican colonial...
My Volunteer Experience In Indonesia
My grandma was from Indonesia, I really wanted to discover the country on my own. But I didn’t want to be only a tourist. I also wanted to experience how it was to live with local people and give something back to the country by volunteering. I choose to go abroad...
Challenge Your Inner Hiker In Patagonia, Argentina!
Hiking? Hmm, not really my thing. That’s what I thought at least when jumping on a flight from Amsterdam to Buenos Aires exactly a year ago. I was on my way to the country of famous steaks, delicious Malbec wine and dancing tango in ancient cathedrals with 70-year old...
The Issue Of Global Waste
Food is one of the most important basic needs humans have. Here in the western world we are often not in short of food. We are free to buy the food we want and like. This in contrast to the 1 billion humans who go undernourished and another 1 billion hungry. A lot of...
Meet our network
Hi, I am Jop Heuvelmans and In this story I will tell you more about my two biggest passions, why I am a member of AIESEC, and what I do as an acquisition manager. About me I’m 21 years old and I live in Tilburg. In January I started a premaster in Data Science and...
6 Filippijnse street foods die je niet voor mogelijk houdt
Pas in 1946 zijn de ruim 7000 eilanden waar de Filippijnen uit bestaat onafhankelijk geworden. Als gevolg van 300 jaar bezetting door de Spanjaarden (oorspronkelijk onder koning Filips, naar wie het land is vernoemd) en meteen daarna nog bijna een halve eeuw door de...