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At ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� College Utrecht, students are encouraged to think outside the box, push boundaries, and explore their passions. Second year UCU student Yoanie Sautjeau '26 embodies this spirit, balancing her studies in environmental science, human geography, and anthropology with a deep commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. Her journey has led her to a space where ideas flow freely, collaboration thrives, and students are empowered to turn vision into reality: Playground.

Playground is a dynamic space at Utrecht ľ�ϸ���Ӱ�� that fosters creativity and entrepreneurship, open to students from all faculties. It’s more than just a physical space—it’s a community where students develop a can-do mindset, connect with others, and learn how to turn their ideas into impactful projects. Through Playground, students can explore their potential and gain skills that go beyond the classroom. For Yoanie, this initiative has become a hub for growth, both personally and professionally.

A Step Towards Discovery

Yoanie first became involved with Playground last year after attending several of its events. “Last year, I attended a lot of Playground events, and I also helped Chiara Palmeri set up a cat café at Science Park. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but I learned a lot and met so many new people,” she says. Though she wasn’t working on her own project at the time, Yoanie found herself drawn to the events and the valuable skills she gained. “What I love most about Playground is its community, the events, and the transferable skills you can learn. Even if it's not directly related to entrepreneurship, I can still use what I learn in my everyday life,” she adds.

A Role that Expands Horizons

Yoanie's role at Playground isn’t directly linked to her studies, but it has allowed her to discover new topics and build essential skills. “My role is to represent UCU students at monthly meetings with the Playground team. I share feedback on upcoming events, suggest new ideas, and help ensure UCU students hear about Playground’s activities,” she explains. “I’m representing UCU students to get them engaged with the Playground community.”

Her role has introduced her to concepts like Design Thinking, further expanding her horizons beyond the classroom. “It’s not only about entrepreneurship, but also about discovering new topics and perspectives,” Yoanie reflects.

The Power of Playground: Supporting Entrepreneurship

Playground is a space where students can turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality, thanks to a range of resources and support. Yoanie highlights some of the opportunities it offers: “Playground organises workshops to help you develop some skills or learn about new topics related to entrepreneurship. They also organise community lunches and often invite an entrepreneur who can share their story during the lunch. Lastly, they offer free coachings if you have a more specific idea—or even if you don’t have a project yet—they are always happy to help you start."

A Call to UCU Students and Alumni: Get Involved

Yoanie encourages fellow UCU students and alumni to get involved with Playground’s offerings. “If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, join the WhatsApp group to get updates on events and helpful information. I’d recommend coming to the events to talk with entrepreneurs, learn about their challenges, and hear their success stories,” she says. “If you have an idea you want to develop, book a free coaching session at Playground. They’ll help you move forward with your project.” For Yoanie, Playground is the ideal space to make things happen and get the support needed to grow ideas into real projects.

The Future of Playground

With Playground's recent move to a new space at Science Park, Yoanie is excited about its future. “The new location next to UtrechtINC, with so many startups nearby, is great. I’m looking forward to seeing how Playground will grow,” she says. “The opening festival was a huge success, and I hope we’ll have more big events like that in the future.” Playground also offers the chance for students to lead workshops, sharing their own knowledge and expertise with the community. “If you have knowledge or skills that you want to share, the team will be more than happy to work with you to make it happen,” Yoanie notes.