At the opening of the 2025 academic year, Ralph Ivar Berkman, a master student in Media Studies 鈥 Media & Creative Industries at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC), was awarded the Student Societal Impact Award. With his foundation L鈥橭iseau Bleu, Ralph supports young people from special secondary education in making the transition to further education.
From Special Secondary 美女福利电影院午夜 to Three Master鈥檚 Degrees
Ralph knows from personal experience how challenging that transition can be. 鈥淒uring special secondary education pupils are often taught in small groups where every teacher knows your name and takes the time to understand how you learn best. But once you move into mainstream education, you suddenly find yourself in an environment where independence is key, where you鈥檙e expected to quickly learn how to manage everything on your own if you want to succeed.鈥
He explains that while it is possible, it requires extra effort: 鈥淲hen you begin this transition, you quickly realise how much more you still need to learn and the extra work required to keep up. Often you lag behind socially and emotionally. As a young person you鈥檙e expected to adapt fast in order to take part fully in society. It鈥檚 not easy, and many struggle with this challenge.鈥
Founding L鈥橭iseau Bleu
Wanting to use his own experience to support others, Ralph co-founded L鈥橭iseau Bleu. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to turn the lessons and skills you鈥檝e gained into something that can help others facing the same challenges. That鈥檚 why, together with my team, I founded L鈥橭iseau Bleu 鈥 to guide young people who are able to, towards active participation in society and the chance to pursue further education.鈥
More Than an 鈥楨xpert by Experience鈥
While Ralph鈥檚 background as an 鈥榚xpert by experience鈥 is invaluable, he stresses that this is not his only role.
鈥淢y primary role is as the founder, to lead the organisation towards greater visibility so that we can support even more young people. That involves management skills 鈥 keeping the team motivated, finding speakers and locations, and representing the foundation in presentations at universities, the Ministry of 美女福利电影院午夜, and debate platforms like De Balie.鈥
Choosing Media & Creative Industries
His choice for the master in Media & Creative Industries at ESHCC was no coincidence. 鈥淚 chose Media and Creative Industries because it鈥檚 essential for a foundation to understand how media works, and how to use it to share your message in a broad and engaging way.鈥
The media, Ralph says, are key in spreading L鈥橭iseau Bleu鈥檚 message:鈥淥ur message is that young people from special education are capable of much more than society often assumes. Because of their challenges, they can transform their experiences into resilience, and that resilience allows them to contribute strongly to a better society.鈥
Inspiration at ESHCC
Ralph also found inspiration in his studies. 鈥淚 would like to highlight three lecturers in particular: Matthijs Leendertse, Etienne Aug茅, and Izabela Derda. Matthijs offered support on questions about growing the foundation; thanks to Etienne鈥檚 Consortium I learned about Scenario Planning, which I later applied to my organisation; and Izabela taught me how to use transmedia storytelling to expand the foundation.鈥
That storytelling approach is visible in new projects: alongside the foundation, a documentary has been made, a book is in the works, and a theatre production is planned for the coming years.
"Not everyone will appreciate or understand you, but if you keep going, you鈥檒l meet people who do."
-Ralph Ivar Berkman, Founder of L鈥橭iseau Bleu
A Varied Programme
The first edition of L鈥橭iseau Bleu ran for eight weeks and offered participants an inspiring and varied programme.
鈥淲e were able to bring in a videogame champion, a creative writer, a veteran from former Yugoslavia, professors from Erasmus University, and even a Member of the European Parliament. The goal was to offer a fun programme that also gave participants the confidence to make a smooth landing into higher education.鈥
Recognition and Future Plans
For Ralph, winning the Student Societal Impact Award is both recognition and motivation. 鈥淚 started out as an insecure and nervous boy just out of special education. Now I鈥檓 studying three master鈥檚 programmes, I have a strong group of friends, a great internship, and a foundation that is gaining more recognition for the impact we鈥檙e making.鈥
The coming years will see further growth: 鈥淣ext year we鈥檒l run two editions of L鈥橭iseau Bleu 鈥 continuing in Rotterdam and expanding to Tilburg. We鈥檒l also be working on a book and a theatre production to spread the message of accessible education even further.鈥
A Message to Fellow Students
Finally, Ralph shares a message for students who may doubt their own abilities: 鈥淚f you鈥檇 told me five years ago what I would achieve, I would never have believed it. What has always helped me is openness and kindness. Not everyone will appreciate or understand you, but if you keep going you鈥檒l meet people who do. When you find those people, life becomes truly rich.鈥
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