A place to belong: ESN Leiden wins the Student Well-being Award
At the annual reversed constitution reception (omgekeerde constitutieborrel), the Executive Board presents an award to a student organization that has made an inspiring and impactful contribution to the well-being and social safety of its members. This year, ESN Leiden won for its program ‘Together is Home.’
Student organizations play an important role in the community within Leiden University and in both Leiden and The Hague. At a time when student well-being is under pressure, these organizations provide a unique space where students can relax, make friends, and develop themselves in various ways. Behind every student organization stands a board that dedicates an entire year to this mission. During the reversed constitution drinks, great appreciation was expressed for all the work these students do and the role they play in the student community.
Connection and mutual support
Award winner ESN developed a program to create an inclusive and welcoming environment, where the sense of belonging is at the heart of everything they do. That feeling of belonging is crucial to student well-being. Strengthening this sense of belonging is preventive in itself – it enhances well-being by encouraging acceptance, connection, and mutual support.
Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl explains: ‘Some groups of students face unique challenges during their time at university – including international students. They may experience loneliness, homesickness, or cultural differences more intensely. This association thoughtfully involves students from different cultures. They turn diversity into a form of belonging, reducing loneliness, and promoting inclusion and psychological safety.’
‘Sometimes well-being looks like a meaningful conversation but sometimes it looks like learning how to eat a bitterbal without burning your tongue.’
Sharing stories
Student board member Priyank Agarwal from ESN Leiden elaborate on the importance of the program Together is Home: ‘Every year, international students arrive in Leiden full of excitement… and within one week they’re battling the rain and dodging bicycles. Studying in a completely different part of world feels chaotic and overwhelming – and that’s exactly why we exist. ‘Our aim has always been simple: help students feel that Leiden is not just a place to study, but a place where they belong. Sometimes well-being looks like a meaningful conversation but sometimes it looks like learning how to eat a bitterbal without burning your tongue.’
ESN also emphasized the importance of their volunteers: ‘They pour so much energy and love into ESN. This award belongs to them. And this award is also for the students who show up, bring their cultures, share their stories, and make Leiden a community instead of just a city.’
These student board members are also committed to the well-being of their members:
Sophie Verhoeven, Bestuurskundige Interfacultaire Vereniging Leiden (B.I.L.)
‘We ensure that students in both Leiden and The Hague have a place to meet new people, connect, and find others with similar interests. In The Hague, many students live in studios, so we provide a social safety net from the start of their studies. We’re especially proud that last year we were the first study association to set up a social safety policy with the GGD. We created an interactive infographic so students know exactly where to find help, and we have a Confidential Contact Person who is undergoing training to better support our members.’
Zeynep Sezgin, IncLUsion
‘What we’re proud of as an association is that we offer two university courses per semester to refugees who cannot enroll in classes because they lack a residence permit. We also organize social activities and language cafés where they can learn Dutch in an informal setting. This way, we aim to increase their sense of dignity, as many refugees feel left behind. Our program takes them seriously and gives them a sense of belonging. For our own students, we have walk-in sessions where we offer a listening ear. We also organize social activities and have a buddy system to improve social integration within the university.’
Matthijs Valten, Stichting Studentensport Leiden (SSL)
‘Our main focus is creating a safe sports environment to improve the social safety of our member assocations. We’re working on a step-by-step plan so associations can easily implement such an environment. The municipality has created a certification to recognize sports associations that comply with safe sport climate requirements. A number of our associations now meet this standard, and we strive to help all of them achieve it. Additionally, we created a code of conduct that associations can adopt, lowering the barrier for implementation.’
Student Well-being & Leiden University
Student well-being is receiving increasing attention; not only from educational institutions but also within student organizations. This is a development Leiden University encourages and supports.
Are you a student organization within the university community and curious about support options? Check the information page. For example, you can apply for a subsidy to organize well-being-related activities or participate in free training and workshops as a board or with your entire association.
Are you a student and want to stay informed about activities and developments in student well-being? Sign up for the monthly Student Well-being Newsletter!
Text: Kirsten Lelieveld and Nienke Verver
Photos: Patryk Fabis