Crea connects a thousand UvA members through anonymous Christmas card exchange
How often do you still find a handwritten card on your doormat? For most people, that is probably a pretty rare occurrence. But if Crea has anything to say about it, that is about to change. The cultural centre is organising an anonymous card exchange among UvA members around Christmas.
With the darker months approaching, Crea is launching a new initiative aimed at fostering a sense of connection among UvA members. The project, called Dear Stranger, involves an anonymous exchange of (Christmas) cards, on which students and staff can write a friendly message to a stranger.
Those interested can sign up at the Crea reception desk, where they will receive a card, along with instructions and an envelope. They are then invited to write an uplifting message, add a cheerful drawing or share a personal story before returning the card to Crea. Participants write their own name and address on the envelope, so they too can expect to receive a card from a stranger through their letterbox.
Heartwarming messages
The cards have been available since this week, and according to Crea, dozens of “heartwarming” messages have already been handed in. The student centre hopes to connect a thousand UvA members in this way. The deadline for taking part is 20 December, after which the cards will be sent out around Christmas.
However, according to Crea director Dennis van Galen, there is no reason for the initiative to end with a single card received around Christmas. The team is already brainstorming ways to continue the project, perhaps around Valentine’s Day or during the summer months. “Perhaps at some point we might even want to organise face-to-face meetings, but we are not quite there yet,” says Van Galen.
Dear Stranger is financially supported by the Amsterdam University Fund, while the PostNL Special Moments Fund covers part of the postage costs.
