Only 7% of the world's population lives in a full-fledged democracy
With this confronting statistic, the educational theater makers De Kiesmannen kicked off their interactive lecture for around seventy VEVA students from Summa Veiligheid on Tuesday, May 13.
In the lead-up to the NATO summit in The Hague, the theater makers, known for their razor-sharp blend of education and performance, led students through a session on security, international cooperation, and the dangers of disinformation. A special guest this afternoon: General Onno Eichelsheim, the highest-ranking military officer in the Netherlands. Afterward, he spoke with the students and answered their questions.
'Sense of responsibility'
Security, war, fake news—these are topics that clearly resonate with students. Team leader Peter Groenen of Summa Safety also notes this: "We've never had as many registrations as this year. We even have a waiting list this year." He believes this is due to the young people's sense of responsibility. "They know what they're choosing."
Before the lecture begins, the students—all dressed in school uniforms—march into the room in complete silence. After the "quiet" command, they take their seats.
To care
The meeting is part of a nationwide NATO tour organized by the Ministry of Defense. The goal: to raise awareness among vocational students about geopolitical developments and engage them in conversation. The students will be asked all sorts of questions about security and NATO, among other things, in a playful way.
After the lecture, there was an open discussion with General Eichelsheim, the Commander of the Armed Forces. He clearly took his time with the students' questions and gave open and honest answers. The students asked him, among other things, about the dilemmas of the profession, what keeps him up at night, and whether he's worried. His honest answer: "Yes, I'm worried."
Want to know more about this meeting? Read the articles by ED and the Defense newspaper about the NATO tour.