The Voice of Young People in the Earthquake-Affected Region

Robin and Kris live in the earthquake-affected region of Groningen. They are part of the OPGESCHUD team, which advocates for young people, who are rarely involved in developing solutions to the issues facing the region.

‘I’m looking around now and I’ve already found another new crack,’ says Robin Huese (18, left in the photo). The future Communication student grew up in the earthquake-affected area. ‘It shouldn’t be normal, but I don’t know any different from walking around the house after every earthquake to inspect the damage.’ Robin noticed something strange about the way information was shared around the issue. ‘There were lots of strangers coming into our home, but nobody spoke to me. Until one day my parents said: our child wants to be involved too.’ This experience was one of the reasons Robin joined OPGESCHUD. ‘They talk about young people all the time, but not with young people.’

These are plans for the next thirty years. It’s strange not to involve the generation that will actually be living with them

Robin and five other young people aged between 16 and 21 make up the OPGESCHUD team, a project launched in 2023 by the University of Groningen and youth organisation Jimmy’s. ‘We want policies that affect young people to be developed with young people wherever possible,’ says Jimmy’s project leader Romy Misran. ‘These are plans for the next thirty years. It would be strange not to involve the generation that will have to live with them.’

‘I just wanted to make a difference,’ says Kris Voogt (18, centre in the photo), whose degree programme comes in handy. ‘Mechanical Engineering is all about solving problems. That’s what I like so much about our project as well: you genuinely try to improve something and then you see the results.’ Second-year student Kris lives in the heart of the earthquake-affected region. ‘When the ground shakes, it feels as though a lorry is driving through your house. It’s part of everyday life.’

‘Our excursion on temporary housing provided genuinely new insights for the NCG and the Knowledge Platform’

During the weekly Monday evening meetings, the young people work in various pilot projects run by organisations such as the National Coordinator Groningen (NCG) and the Knowledge Platform for a Liveable and Prosperous Groningen.

‘Quite often an organisation approaches us with a question about youth participation. We then get acquainted and explore how we can contribute,’ Robin explains. One example was the Knowledge Platform, which wanted young people’s views on themes discussed in its handbook. ‘We read the chapters together, made notes about things that stood out to us and wrote sections ourselves. For example, about how we view the strengthening of homes,’ says Kris.

The young people also go out into the field. ‘We organised an excursion focused on temporary housing. That genuinely provided new insights for the people from the NCG and the Knowledge Platform.’

‘At first they listened to us, but after the excursion they started genuinely working with us’

Robin has lived in temporary accommodation himself. ‘I wanted to draw attention to how young people experience temporary housing. I wanted policymakers to feel what it’s like for a fifteen-year-old to live there.’ The needs of young people are still overlooked too often. ‘Some sites didn’t even have a playground or any form of entertainment. Adults don’t tend to think about those things, but if you simply ask young people what they’re missing, they’ll tell you straight away,’ says Robin. Kris noticed staff members suddenly starting to make connections. ‘For example, about the gaps underneath doors and how that can make a house very noisy. At first it felt more like they were listening to us politely, but after the excursion they started genuinely working with us.’

Even so, Robin still sees too many situations where good communication is lacking. ‘It can be quite frustrating, because we’re not some kind of strange species. Young people are perfectly capable of thinking and contributing. And if something isn’t possible, just explain why.’ Kris has at least learned how to explain things to professionals. ‘Normally you never speak to them, but through OPGESCHUD I’ve learned how to have those conversations. I also have a much better understanding of who does what and which organisation is responsible for what.’

‘The voice of young people should always be included’

Robin has learned how to make conversations more equal. ‘As a young person, you often start at a disadvantage. There are many stereotypes about young people, such as the idea that we know very little about the topic or that we simply aren’t interested.’ To change this, the team uses different methods. ‘For example, we mix up the seating so it’s not us versus the professionals, but a shared conversation. We also start with a check-in question such as: what’s your favourite holiday? That often breaks the ice and helps put everyone on an equal footing.’

According to project leader Misran, that is where the strength of OPGESCHUD lies. ‘You see young people growing and taking those participation skills with them into other settings. That’s exactly what you want: young people experiencing that their voice matters.’ Looking ahead, Kris and Robin mainly hope that youth participation will not remain a temporary project. ‘The voice of young people should always be included,’ they say firmly. Robin has one final message for young people who want to make their voices heard. ‘Above all, ask questions. If someone uses difficult words, just ask what they mean. People are often happy to explain things, but they only know you have a question if you ask it.’

Photo: The OPGESCHUD team, with Robin on the left and Kris in the centre