2017-2018

10-07-2018 The pleasant weather with bright sun was the perfect day for an outdoor sports event. We decided to end the academic year on a high so our final event of the academic year was Summer beach volleyball. To celebrate the success of Connecting Hands together with refugees, we also organised a free BBQ for all participants with music from all over the world to have the perfect afternoon. We played in mixed teams together, picked each other up, shared meals and danced to the tunes of the world. There was an emotional end to the event as some students were ...

28-06-2018 Teaming up with Rico Latino, dance studio in Enschede, Connecting Hands at the UT provided a salsa workshop on Thursday evening. Over 25 students and refugees threw out some dance moves, after the teacher showed some instructions. SALSA WORKSHOP A wide mix of nationalities ranging from Iran, Syria, Cuba and Eritrea, 20 women from the AZC attended the workshop. Also a wide range in age, from 14 to 60 years, the workshop apparently attracted everyone! After a welcome drink, the group learned some steps first, and then went on to dance onto music, and performing real merengue moves. RICO LATINO ...

31-05-2018 On the 31st of May, we cooperated with tour guides from Enschede, to host a tour through the city center of Enschede. With a good attendance, we visited remarkable spots in the city, and learned a lot from it.

23-04-2018 On Monday evening, a large group of students and refugees visited Bowling Enschede, a bowling venue just across the University of Twente. With a lot of lanes, more than 40 attendants and a round of drinks from the committee, a great time was assured! BOWLING ENSCHEDE Our sports committee set up a wonderful evening of bowling, and what's better than a spot just across university? So our committee members contacted Bowling Enschede, a great venue with 7 bowling lanes to host the event. So this Monday, we were joined by 35 refugees from both AZC Almelo and M-Pact/ Doe mee ...

12-04-2018 Last Thursday Connecting Hands at the UT visited the Synagogue Enschede together with 45 people including refugees from the AZC Almelo, Doe mee in Enschede, M-Pact and students. We had a wonderful time freshening up our knowledge about the Jewish religion, appreciating the historic building and making new friends along the way! We would like to thank everyone for their participation as well as the people at the Synagogue Enschede for their collaboration and incredible hospitality! SYNAGOGUE ENSCHEDE The synagogue was built in 1928, according to the architectural plan of renowned architect Karel van Bazel. Payed by non Jewish people ...

07-04-2018 We got a beautiful, sunny Friday afternoon from the weather gods for our Rijksmuseum Twenthe visit. In an hour and a half visit, we learned more on the history of Twenthe. Why it was considered as one of the richest regions of the entire Netherlands, and how the textile industries of Twente became the biggest in the Netherlands. With these riches, the influential people of Enschede bought influential art pieces they considered important, and was later displayed in the Rijksmuseum Twenthe. THE RIJKSMUSEUM TWENTHE The rich and influential family Van Heek had several textile companies throughout the 19th and 20th ...

07-03-2018 On the 7th of March, student football association v.v. Drienerlo hosted a football clinic along with some 6 vs 6 matches to wrap up the day! The day started beautifully with great weather and a bright sun, but unfortunately the clouds brought shadow and cold. Nonetheless, the 39 participants from the AZC and M-Pact came with great spirit to show their skill. HELP FROM V.V. DRIENERLO Once again, v.v. Drienerlo helped us with a great football clinic, with some nice music beats during the training. The football association already provided a spot in their internal futsal competition for a refugee ...

09-02-2018 The first guided campus tour by the Connecting Hands was hosted on Friday, the 9th of February, where refugees got to see the UT campus. Accompanied by roughly 15 people from M-Pact and almost 20 from the AZC Almelo, the tour took us to the most remarkable spots on campus. Lots of stories about the campus, and participants asked questions about studying here. As the final location for the tour, the three groups visited a student house. Sjaak 63 opened its doors, to welcome the group, to show what a Dutch student house looks like. And after the tour, the ...

14-01-2018 Last night's New Years Dinner was a full success thanks to Kookstudio Kook & Ço, who generously let us cook in their studio, our volunteers, and everyone who joined the event! We were joined by 60 people, including from AZC Almelo (refugee center) and M-Pact! A couple of talented cooks created a three-course meal for the attendees and in a joint effort, everyone gave a hand. New friends were made, contracts exchanged and a beautiful evening was spent together. KOOK & CO Kook & Co, since 2003 active in Enschede, is a cooking studio that provides culinary cooking workshops, catering ...

20-12-2017 With the help of FC Twente, Connecting Hands took 100 people to the cup match FC Twente - Ajax. They witnessed a unique game that resulted in a 1-1 draw, after which FC Twente won the penalty series (6-5) and continued their cup tournament! FC TWENTE - AJAX A while ago, Connecting Hands teamed up with FC Twente and M-Pact to improve integration of refugees. A group of 50 persons - asylum seekers living at the AZC Almelo, and refugees living in Enschede and a part of the M-Pact programme - came together with 50 students from Enschede to watch ...