Testimonial
The articles of association of the fund declare that a family member must always be present on the A.A. Van Beek Fund board. Currently, that is Maurits, who was preceded by his father Frederik. Maurits commemorates the 100th anniversary of the fund.
Although the fund had developed over time, it is just as relevant as when it was founded. Maurits: “Three years ago, we re-examined where we could make the greatest impact. Our focus has moved towards first-generation students, for whom a grant is essential if they want to study or follow an internship abroad. These are young folks who are the first in their family to make it to university. They often lack the financial means to make that extra step, which can be so important for their future careers.”
The fund was initiated by the Rotterdam familie Van Beek. Initially aimed at supporting the goals of the Dutch Trade School (DTS) and promoting the internation mercantile spirit, the fund has gradually moved toward supporting students to go abroad during their studies.
Making progress together
The former A.A. Van Beek Foundation was absorbed into the Erasmus Trustfonds as a named fund in 2018. Maurits: “Thanks to the Erasmus Trustfonds, our impact has vastly improved. The foundation consists of professionals who connect many different people and organizations.”
The family has always looked for the right ways to interpret our fund’s goals. Global disparity is increasing. Fortune favours those who have it good, while many drop out of our society because they feel like they have no opportunities. We feel like we can make a tangible difference in the perspective of talents who are struggling financially.”
“Studying abroad is a wonderful adventure. You need to look after yourself, you meet people from across the world, you have to make yourself understood in a strange language. That changes you. Studying abroad helps you realize that what you learn outside the classroom is perhaps even more valuable.”
