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| The mates of The Event Factory (left to right): Kaj Blockhuis, Tonnie Buitink with dog Victor, Lars Beckman and Jelmer van Straelen (missing). |
In the director's chair of this organization sits event manager Tonnie Buitink whose talents lie in his ability to motivate a team of student employees. Every fine detail of each event- finding the right audio equipment, ordering flower arrangements, arranging for specialty catering, renting tents and securing the required permits from the local government -is all handled with respect for the cultural traditions of all nationalities on campus. `We have a strong relationship with campus security, the local government and the International Office,' he says.
Members of the Pakistani Student Association had a positive experience working with the organization:`It was really a nice experience to work with Tonnie Buitink and his team, specifically Jelmer van Straelen, who took a keen interest to make all the arrangements. They provided us with solutions for our every problem-from the selection of the best place in the University for flying the kites to the last minute details of a backup plan in case of rain. They are a team of professionals, who responded quickly on the request of PSA,' says Rauf.
Buitink makes it known that he only speaks `street English,' and when he started his career at the University in 1969, as a bartender at the Vestingbar on campus, he said it was a really Dutch university with only Dutch students. `Today the University is screaming for international students,' says Buitink. `In the past, if you saw an international student walking around campus, then that was rare. Now you see the whole world here.'
University officials estimate the international population will continue to increase over the next years until it reaches a desired 20 percent of the targeted student population of 10,000 students. Coupled with the University's merger last spring with the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), and the establishment of new international student associations, the need to serve this community comes as no big surprise.
`You need to give international students the feeling of not being afraid to participate in the cultural aspects of student life. When students arrive, they are told how to study, live, work and learn, but there is so much more. There is a whole cultural world around them, and we want to offer a place for them to help express their own cultural traditions and customs,' says Buitink.
Besides problems with communicating in the Dutch world, many international students are not aware of the rules and protocol established to hold an event on campus grounds. `We have seen many changes over the past 19 years. The rules of the game have changed. In the early years, everything was possible, but now there are strict rules to ensure the safety of everyone. This is really a positive change,' says Buitink, referring to university measures set into effect in 2005, which lay the ground rules for events being held on campus.
Buitink and his team have already been involved with helping plan international events, such as, the Pakistani Kite Flying Festival, International Students Meet Enschede and the Holi Festival of Lights.
Outside of these events, Buitink finds plenty time to keep involved with community life. He was the founder of the Drienerlose Pop Organisation (DPO), and his accolades extend further to being honoured with the royal distinction, Knight of the House of Orange. He earned this royal distinction in part for his efforts to help victims of the 2000 fireworks disaster in the Roombeek district of the city. He organized a Benefit Concert at the University to let people `forget' the horror of the disaster and raise money for victims.
The Event Factory extends its services to point students in the right direction and make sure they avoid the pitfalls of not `knowing the lay of the land.' Buitink's central message to international students: `Come join us. We want to offer you a helping hand.'
For more information about activities of The Event Factory, contact Tonnie Buitink: (053) 4892368
