Theme: Dream Big, Then Do It

Our event is about bring young people together with great ideas worth doing. We wil bring young dreamers together to share ideas, stories and experiences. Our young speakers are the inspirators: they've bring their idea alive!

Provinciehuis Noord-Brabant
Brabantlaan 1
's-Hertogenbosch, 5216TV
Netherlands

Yvette Vugts

Yvette Vugts (19 years old) is the founder of FforFashion, an organization for young models that normally wouldn’t make it on the catwalk, because they don’t have the typical shape of a model. Yvette, having lost one of her best friends to anorexia, wants to shake up the fashion scene and show that real beauty comes from the inside. Yvette dreams of two things: organizing great fashion shows every year and showing youngsters they shouldn’t give up their dreams. Her motto: You can be who you want to be.

Dennis Hoekstra

Dennis Hoekstra (23 years old) is an ambitious entrepreneur and politician. When he was sixteen years old he got into local politics because a teacher inspired him to do so. For Dennis being involved in politics means being involved in society. He wants to encourage his peers to get out of their comfort zone and make a conscious choice for things that really matter to them and let their voices be heard. He says if you don’t stand up and speak, others will make important decisions for you. His talk is about holding on to your dreams and following your true beliefs even if peer pressure and the educational system are working against you. He speaks about the importance of young minds influencing politics. His motto: Dream, dare and do!

Shaun Figaroa

Shaun Figaroa (18 years old) tells his story of becoming a performer and owner of his own record label, 040Records. He comes from a troubled background and left school because of difficulties he was experiencing at home. Not knowing what to do with his time he started making music. First came simple beats and later he started rapping, writing poetry and directing video clips. Shaun wanted to use his musical experience to help other kids record their music so he started his own record label. His talk is about how he had to rise above low expectations other people had of him. Shaun found his escape in music and proves that even if you had a difficult start in life, you can make it.

Jeffrey Arenz

Jeffrey Arenz (18 years old) already knew what he wanted when he was still in primary school: to sing and act. He has already played a part in the Dutch version of “Beauty and the beast” and in a few other musicals. A couple of years ago Jeffrey founded Skizzle Netherlands, an organization that supports kids that are being bullied. Jeffrey can relate to these children, because he has been picked on himself. The bullying had a huge effect on his self-esteem and social life. Which resulted in him spending 5 months away from school. His talk is about turning negative experiences into something positive. Jeffrey wants kids to be aware of the effect of bullying and stop doing it.

Vincent de Wit

Vincent de Wit (18 years old) is an optimist. He is curious and outgoing. Vincent started his first business, a web shop selling gadgets, when he was 15 years old. Now, three years later, he runs a company that builds apps. He is a real entrepreneur. Vincent shows us what it is like to be a young man in business. He talks about the benefits and the downsides of having your own company at a young age. Vincent wants to encourage peers to do something with their ideas and maybe even start their own business. His take home message: go out and try, there is nothing to lose, there is everything to gain.

Wesley Maurix

Wesley Maurix (20 years old), is a word artist, poet and writer. He is small, but his dreams are big. For Wesley nothing is impossible, as long as you believe in it. Wesley suffers from a disease called diastrophic dysplasia which affected his growth and motor skills. He is an intern at RADAR, an institution that fights against discrimination and for equality. Wesley writes in many different styles, from poems to columns. His dream: inspire people and teach them to stand their ground. In his talk he speaks about the importance of positivity in achieving your goals and about supporting each other. Wesley wants to show kids that strength lies within. His motto: Life is nothing without love