The Connection Project

Over het initiatief / About the initiative

In welke fase zit jouw initiatief? / In what stage is your initiative?

Startupfase

Heb je jouw initiatief al gevalideerd? / Did you validate your initiative?

Yes, we have had multiple collaborators at summits and universities seeking to bring their student communities closer to themselves and each other through our interactive spaces.

Meer informatie over jouw initiatief / More info about your initiative

What if the root of our biggest problems is how we relate and the solution is how we reconnect?

The Connection Project was born from a simple realization among students: we are taught everything except how to relate to each other. In a world shaped by polarization, technological acceleration, and social isolation, what we are missing most are the relational skills that help us feel, listen, set boundaries, repair, and connect.

We began by tackling one of the hardest topics, sexual violence among students, and discovered that prevention requires more than rules; it requires relationships. So we created workshops, pop-up events, and digital content to help people learn consent, boundaries, and emotional intelligence, not as isolated topics, but as part of a broader culture of care.

Our team brings together students from engineering, psychology, and the arts, combining systems thinking, human behavior, and creativity. What started on campus now belongs to everyone. Our goal is to build a generation that is not just technologically skilled but relationally wise.

The Connection Project is not just an initiative. It’s an invitation to become more human, together.

Link to brochure

Wat is er anders/nieuw aan jouw idee/oplossing t.o.v. bestaande oplossingen? / What is different/new about your idea/solution compared to existing solutions??

Most educational or social initiatives focus on outcomes, career success, productivity, or policy change. Few focus on the relational foundation that makes all of those things possible. The Connection Project is different because it centers emotional, relational, and social intelligence as the infrastructure for belonging, collaboration, and social safety.

While many approaches to well-being or prevention remain individualistic or top-down, The Connection Project is collective, cultural, and bottom-up. It was built by students, shaped with students, and speaks in the language of real life: not just what we do, but how we do it, with care. Check out our testimonies from our Empowering Consent Workshop…

It is innovative because it combines:

• Cross-disciplinary design: Psychology, engineering, and the arts come together to approach human connection from multiple angles. This allows us to design experiences that are not only practical and effective, but also emotionally resonant and creatively engaging.

• Cultural shift: We don’t just train skills, we spark a new way of being in community.

• Scalable formats: From interactive workshops to pop-up events and digital storytelling, our model adapts to different spaces and people.

At its core, The Connection Project is responding to one of the greatest unmet needs of our time: how to stay human with each other, even when everything else pulls us apart.

Wat zijn jouw volgende stappen om het verder te ontwikkelen? / What are your next steps to develop the initiative?

The next phase of The Connection Project is about deepening our methodology, expanding our reach, and amplifying our message.

• 1. Launch and pilot our flagship Connection Program:
  We’re developing a 4-module experiential journey that equips participants with emotional, relational, and social intelligence. The program moves beyond awareness into embodiment, helping people navigate boundaries, practice vulnerability, communicate with care, and build trust across difference. It will serve as the foundation for scaling our work in universities, workplaces, and communities.

• 2. Collaborate with new communities and institutions:
  We want to co-create with youth, educators, social organizations, and cultural spaces to adapt our tools to different realities. We believe connection must be locally grounded and globally resonant, so we’re building partnerships that reflect that.

• 3. Expand our storytelling through visual media:
  Following the success of our first short film on consent, we’re beginning production on a second film about boundaries. Through cinematic storytelling, we humanize abstract concepts and reach audiences beyond the workshop space, sparking reflection and dialogue.

These steps are part of a larger vision: to shape a culture of care.

Wat heb je nodig om (nog meer) impact te maken met dit initiatief? / What do you need to make (more) impact with this initiative?

To truly scale The Connection Project into a cultural force, we need partnership, visibility, and infrastructure.

• 1. A media partner:
  We are ready to amplify our voice through documentaries, campaigns, and online storytelling. A media company could help us bring the emotional depth of our work to screens, crafting a narrative that resonates across borders, ages, and identities.

• 2. Strategic partners and institutions:
  We want to embed our programs within universities, youth organizations, and innovation spaces. With the right partners, we can co-develop scalable, culturally relevant programs that support well-being, inclusion, and community resilience.

• 3. Investment in infrastructure:
  To grow sustainably, we need resources for coordination, facilitation, and evaluation. With the right support, we can professionalize our team, train facilitators, and measure impact, without losing the heart and humanity of our grassroots beginnings.

What began as a student-led initiative is becoming a movement for relational change. With the right support, we can shape a generation that knows how to care, connect, and build together in a time of deep uncertainty.