Performatory Inspiration Talks: “Sharing something you really care about makes a huge difference”

Can you briefly explain what PI talks are?
“The PI talks are one of the core elements in our Social Innovation programme. It’s an event where students get the chance to talk about something they’re passionate about. Basically, it’s like a TED Talk, but made by students. You can pick your own topic, choose how you want to tell your story, and be as creative as you want. It’s a really cool moment where everyone can share what’s on their mind, inspire others, and show different ways of thinking.” 

What was your talk about?
“My talk was about the current housing crisis. I zoomed in on the housing shortage part — where it actually comes from, how we are handling it right now, and what the future might look like if we don’t change something. I also looked at other countries and how they deal with problems like empty or neglected buildings. Who’s responsible for that, and what can we learn from their solutions?
Besides that, I talked about building materials — like, why are we still mainly building with stone and concrete when we could use wood or other sustainable materials? It was all about rethinking how we live and how we build for the future.” 

How did you come up with this topic?
“I came up with this topic about two years ago, when I got kicked out of my old house in Breda. I was living there with some friends in the Heuvel neighborhood in Breda. We had a great time living together until the municipality decided we weren’t allowed to stay there anymore, because we didn’t count as a "family household."
It was super frustrating — not just because I lost my home, but also because the house is still standing empty today, while so many people are out there desperately looking for a place to live. That experience really opened my eyes and made me want to understand the bigger picture behind the housing problem.” 

What did you learn from this topic?
“I learned a lot — especially about how complicated the whole system is. The housing shortage isn’t just about "not enough houses"; it’s this massive network with lots of rules, laws, parties, and different interests.
I realised that if you really want to find solutions, you need to understand how all these systems are connected. You can’t just fix one thing — you have to work with the bigger system and still push for a better future. It made me see how important it is to create solutions that fit into the system but still challenge it at the same time.”

How did you feel about presenting in front of a group of people?
“To be honest, I was super chill before the presentation. I wasn’t nervous at all, until about five minutes before I had to go up. Then it suddenly hit me. But I just took a deep breath, focused, and started talking.
Because I practiced a lot and I really cared about what I was saying, it all went naturally once I started. I actually enjoyed it in the end — sharing something you really care about makes a huge difference.” 

What do you want people to remember about your talk?
“If there’s one thing I want people to remember, it’s that we have to listen more to the people who are actually living the problem. A lot of decisions are made without really talking to the people affected by them.
And we also need to think bigger about how we live — not just building more houses, but looking at new ways of living together, new materials, smarter use of space. It’s not just about creating homes, but about creating real communities where people actually want to live.” 

Why should people come to the PI talks next time?
“The PI talks are honestly a great way to open your mind. Every talk brings something different — solutions, frustrations, new perspectives you maybe never thought about.

Each talk only takes about 10 minutes, so even if you drop in for a few, it’s definitely worth it. You’ll hear people talk with real passion about topics they really care about. And who knows — one of those talks might inspire you to look at something in your own life differently.
 It’s super casual too — you can just walk in and out depending on what interests you. But if you’re open to it, you’ll walk away with new ideas and maybe even a little bit of extra motivation yourself.”