Interview with Samuel Kassa from the Family of Academic Minds

Firstly, we are delighted to welcome you, Samuel!

For those who don't know yet, what is FAM?

FAM is a very enjoyable student association that is based at the VU. We have been in existence for five years, three of which as an official student association and two years as part of VU family. That was a project within the VU. for context > FAM started as a student initiative in 2019 subsidized by the Echo foundation and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.  Due to the high popularity of the unique organization and popular demand, after two years, it was officially established in 2021 as student association FAM.

Can you tell us more about VU family?

Yes, VU Family is actually how we started. It was a group of students who all felt that there was a kind of community missing at the VU. They wanted to create a place where different students could come together and have a meaningful and good time, where everyone felt welcome. We did that for two years, and it was so much fun that people thought, 'Yes, these two years are now finished. We actually want to continue.' So, we started working to make it an official student association. Since 2020, we have been an official student association. It's a lot of fun, and we stand for diversity and inclusion; that is our main pillar. We want to be a student association that is open to everyone, where everyone feels included at the university. 

And by whom was it founded?

VU Family was founded by a group of students, but Sergio Soeroredjo  and Danny Soerkansing  are our "founding fathers". With FAM, Maricristy Foglia and Tyriq Burnett were also the co-founders. 

What is the goal of FAM?

The goal of FAM is really to create a place at the university where everyone feels safe, welcome, and comfortable, and where it can just be enjoyable. We aim to create a welcoming community for every student. We achieve this by two main things: We aim to broaden diversity, equity and inclusion within academia and the workplace. And we also strengthen the sense of belonging among our members/community. 

 Because many students at the VU only came to the university for classes and then immediately went home, we wanted to break that habit. We wanted to become a vibrant association where people can meet each other, both after school and during school. The main goal of FAM is to get to know and bring people together who also value diversity and inclusion.

For whom is FAM? Is there a specific target group?

FAM is actually for everyone with an open mindset, In the sense of being open to new people, new cultures, and learning from each other. in the broadest sense. But our target group, as it is officially called, is mainly first-generation students. So students who are the first in their generation to go to university, with a bicultural background. Those are our main focus points. But we are really open to everyone. Even though we’re based at the VU, we're open to all HBO and WO students! We have Inholland, HVA and UVA students for example! 

And what activities does FAM offer?

We organize enjoyable social, educational and cultural events the list goes from: game nights, a sports day, sip and paints, an iftar, potlucks, healing sessions , and trips.  So both the members and the activities are very diverse. These are the fun activities that we organize. Oh, and you don’t need to worry about your dietary wishes: at our events we always offer non-alcohol, halal and veggie options! Additionally, we also have professional activities. With and within our community, we aim to bridge the gap between professional work life and student life. So, together with our students we actually meet and visit potential employers:  Through in-house days and focus groups at these companies we create meeting spaces where students and employers can connect and interact with each other. We also share and inform network opportunities and leadership positions to our members. Last but not least, we also have a podcast called FAMiliar by FAM!

What are the misconceptions about FAM?

The misconceptions about FAM are, I think, that many people may not necessarily know well what FAM is and what we stand for. Perhaps people also have the impression that we only stand for ethnic diversity, but in reality, we embrace all forms of diversity. Everyone is truly welcome with us, it doesn't matter what you study, how old you are or whether you’re religious. Yes, natives can also join us. I think that is the main misconception that exists. Another misconception might be that it can be difficult to join us, but it's actually super easy, and it's really a very welcoming and enjoyable environment. You don’t need to be a member to attend our events, just sign up and show up!

Personally, why did you join FAM?

That's a good question. I knew someone who had been a part of FAM for a long time, someone who was previously with VU Family. That person always told me wonderful stories about how great it was and why I really should join. Last year, I started as an acquisition member because I thought, 'This is my last year; I want to end it on a good note.' So, I did an acquisition year. I thought, let me give it a try before I leave. And it turned out so well and pleasantly surprised me that I thought everything that was said was really true. So that's why I initially joined FAM.

And you are also active as a board member. What is your role, and why did you decide to take on a board year?

My role within the board is Commissioner of External Affairs, quite a mouthful. I decided to take on this role because it aligns with what I did in my committee last year, and because I found FAM to be a fantastic association. I wanted to contribute more to FAM and decided to take on a board year to elevate the association to a higher level. Since we are still very young, the early years are crucial. Those are the main reasons why I chose to add a board year to it.

And what do you personally enjoy most about FAM?

The best thing about FAM for me is definitely the members. I have a really great team, really nice people! Also, last year, I had really nice fellow members. That's truly why I'm still so enthusiastic about FAM. So yes, the members are super fun! The atmosphere is very cozy, everyone is super welcoming and easy to talk with. It's not so traditional; it really has a community feel without the obligations of 'you have to be present every week,' so it's very open. Additionally, the activities we offer are also very enjoyable. It's a good mix of social and important topics we discuss and just really fun activities. Those are truly the fantastic aspects of FAM.

What would you recommend other student organizations to do, to make their associations more inclusive?

I think I would recommend them to have an open mind set on the topic regarding diversity and inclusion. It is useful to engage with people with different backgrounds and learn from their experiences so you can try to tailor some aspect of the events to their wishes. Offering non-alcoholic beverages next to alcoholic ones is one idea for example. And to also look out for each other, do all the students feel comfortable and at ease in your association and at events? It’s easier said then done but it’s crucial to have a welcoming atmosphere and trying to interact with new members and spark conversations is already step one!

And is there anything else you would like to say about FAM?

Yes, we are open to everyone, and everyone is welcome. It's the most fun association, very inclusive. I would really recommend everyone to at least check out what FAM is doing and hopefully see you at an event.

Thank you so much! It's been a pleasure.

Yes, very nice to do it. Thanks for the opportunity Kraket!