HMSL students raise over €36,000 for Buddyhuis
How do you organise an evening that people won’t forget, and that makes a real difference? Students from Hotel Management School Leeuwarden took on the challenge. During their 'Samen aan tafel' dinner at Restaurant Wannee, they raised an impressive €36,040 for Stichting Buddyhuis.
The fundraising dinner was part of a Design Challenge: a real-life project where students develop their skills by tackling an actual problem from the professional world. In this case: help raise awareness of the Buddyhuis in the northern Netherlands, and show why the initiative matters.
Designing, organising and creating an experience
Working in teams, the students shaped every part of the event. From the concept to the final guest experience. They thought carefully about how to make an impact, not just with words but by creating an experience that would stay with people.
The 88 guests enjoyed a carefully crafted dinner, a charity auction and a prize draw. One playful moment stood out: balloons floating above the tables, each one offering a bottle of champagne for whoever pulled it down. A simple, engaging idea that added a spark to the evening - full of connection, warmth and shared purpose.
Design Challenges
Design-Based Education means working on real challenges and learning by doing. At Hotel Management School Leeuwarden, students do this through Design Challenges. Organisations bring in a concrete problem, and students team up to create solutions that actually work.
The Buddyhuis dinner is a great example, not just because of the money raised, but because it showed what happens when students bring their heads, hearts and hands together for a good cause.
Got a real-world challenge for our students?
We’re always looking for new collaborations. If your organisation has a question or challenge you'd like to explore together, feel free to contact our account managers.
Hotel Management School Leeuwarden
