Survey. Photo | Bart van Overbeeke
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TU/e students help 11-year-old youngsters improve their district

More litter bins, a climbing wall, a gaming afternoon for all age groups and especially signs discouraging people from smoking; there is no shortage of ideas for improving their districts among the pupils from primary school De Boog in Tongelre. Thursday morning, on a proposal of the MOVE foundation, they conducted a survey of their districts from which these plans emerged. Students take it upon themselves to execute or have executed the winning idea for ‘sprucing up play areas and sport areas’.

by
photo Bart van Overbeeke
[Translate to English:] Foto | Bart van Overbeeke

 In four groups the pupils set out in the surroundings of Vlinderplein in Tongelre. Each group has a different role so as to get four different angles. There are tourists, journalists, photographers and researchers. At the same time, all of them are walking round like community beat officers. They know exactly what is broken, dirty or unsafe in their environment.

Joep Gevaert. Photo | Bart van Overbeeke
Joep Gevaert. Photo | Bart van Overbeeke

“Look, there is dog poo everywhere”, says Ilayda on her way to the sports field. After having arrived there they see that the goal is wobbly. Classmate Soulaymane points out that his coat could get snagged on the fence: “We need a new fence here.” They go on and near a small playground Rory points at the litter. “Look, glass and bread and cigarette stubs. I walk along here every day and the other day there was a dirty diaper.” The walls of the play house have been defaced with indelible felt pen markings; Rory does not like it at all.

[Translate to English:] Foto | Bart van Overbeeke

At the skate track the children say they don’t like it that the ramps are always in the same arrangement. And the slide and the see-saw next to it are too dirty to sit on. “A bit yucky”, says 11-year-old Queenna.

 

The six accompanying students are all members of climbing club ESAC, the Eindhoven Student Alpine Club. MOVE asked for their cooperation in particular, not because of their climbing experience, but because they have noticed that many of them are scouting guides. And they are used to setting out with children.

[Translate to English:] Foto | Bart van Overbeeke
[Translate to English:] Foto | Bart van Overbeeke
[Translate to English:] Foto | Bart van Overbeeke

A secondary purpose of this project is for pupils from disadvantaged districts to get acquainted with students. Joep Gevaert (a second-year student of Electrical Engineering) is aware of being a role model this morning. When asked, pupil Adam says that he actually does not know any students. He thinks that Joep is a good student. “You can see that from his behavior, he acts responsibly.” Joep finds the project fun and useful: “The children are learning that you can make plans to tackle problems and that those plans actually have an effect.”

For after all, the winning plan, which the pupils have voted on themselves, will also be carried out. How and when the students are going to spruce up the play and sports areas in the district is not known yet, but it is certain that they are going to do so. Via MOVE there is money available for when a good plan is presented.

Photo's | Bart van Overbeeke

 

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