The young generation (16-24 years old) is often not able to donate as much money as older generations. On the other hand they can offer to help strangers or volunteer time. These young adults may not be able to give money at this point in life, however charities should still connect and involve them in their organizations.

 

This field study gives insight in how students can become engaged in charity and how they are able to contribute. For this reason a ‘pop-up stand’ called Give and Get Bag, which gave its audience the opportunity to exchange items, was designed. The user donates an item to charity, and is able to take a ‘thank-you gift’ in the shape of a hand-printed bag in return. Several refugees were interviewed and their stories were portrayed on the pop-up stand to create a feeling of empathy.

 

Within this study the storytelling, the thank-you gift and the donation with items play an important role. During this four day study participants were observed and interviewed. Many people showed interest in the pop-up stand, this is reflected in the 674 people in total who approached the stand. It was found that aspects of the design of Give and Get Bag stimulated students to donate to charity. The bag provided as a thank-you gift was perceived as an incentive for students to participate. Providing the possibility to donate items instead of money could have lowered the threshold of donating. Furthermore students could identify themselves with the charity through the storytelling, as the subject of charity was shown in such a way that it became close to the students’

own lives.

 

Collected items were donated to the Asylum Seekers Center Maastricht.

 

 

 

Project in collaboration with Anne Wil Burghoorn, Koen van Gaalen,  Stefano Eugenio Lanzani, Daborah Pulles, Vera Smoor, Feng Ye

 

 

‘Unlike other systems, that ask for money, this is more meaningful and interesting’

 

‘just the thought of losing everything… it is hard to imagine’

 

‘I really like this idea, I can give something small but this can have a great impact on the people’