Laurien Meuter declared UG Alumnus of the Year 2020

The University of Groningen has awarded Laurien Meuter the title of Alumnus of the Year 2020 for the impressive way in which she supports women and their families in the poorest slums of Mumbai. Meuter’s Tiny Miracles Foundation aims to permanently lift one million people out of poverty. Laurien Meuter will receive her award during the Opening of the Academic Year on 6 September. The prize is an expression of both appreciation and encouragement.

Laurien Meuter graduated in Economics and Corporate Finance in 2001 and subsequently spent many years working as a banker in the Zuidas financial district. However, she changed course when she spent a year working in Mumbai, where was touched by the extreme poverty and degrading circumstances that street children were living in. In 2010, she established the Tiny Miracles Foundation.

Awareness

Tiny Miracles focuses not only on individuals but on the entire community. The foundation aims to give the poorest of the poor a chance to a better future, working on the basis of equality and paying attention to all the aspects that may help to break the vicious circle of poverty. Simply giving money is not the way to significantly change these people’s situations. The women work four days a week but are paid for six days. They spend the other two days developing themselves and learning about a range of topics, varying from education and healthcare to their own position in society.

Laurien Meuter is ambitious: she wants to permanently lift one million people out of poverty – a major aim that can only be achieved with a major approach. She found the solution in seeking collaboration with big companies. A number of international companies and museums have already teamed up with her foundation, and are selling the products made by the women in India around the globe.

The jury is enthusiastic, as witnessed by the jury report: ‘Laurien Meuter represents several characteristics and values that the University of Groningen holds dear. She is a social entrepreneur who is committed to creating a sustainable society by using a multidisciplinary approach and vision, she takes international as well as local perspectives into account, is able to connect different worlds with each other and bases all her actions on inclusiveness and equality.’ The jury members regard Meuter as a source of inspiration for the University:

‘Her work makes a concrete contribution to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals drawn up by the United Nations, which the UG would also like to focus more on. For example, we are establishing interdisciplinary schools to confront students with major societal themes and familiarize them with social entrepreneurship, and thus teach them how to work towards a sustainable society, just like Meuter is doing.’

Further information:

• The Alumnus of the Year 2020 award will be presented during the Opening of the Academic Year on 6 September.
• An interview with Alumnus of the Year Laurien Meuter can be found in the July edition of Broerstraat 5, the University of Groningen alumni magazine.
• This year, the jury for the Alumnus of the Year award comprised: Cisca Wijmenga, Rector Magnificus, chair; Sander de Hosson, pulmonary specialist, Alumnus of the Year 2019; Thony Visser, Dean of the Faculty of Arts; and Remco Kouwenhoven, Director of Alumni Relations & Fundraising/Ubbo Emmius Fund
• The University of Groningen has been presenting the annual Alumnus of the Year award to an exceptional former student since 2009. The prize is a show of appreciation and encouragement to an alumnus who has made an extraordinary contribution to society, academia, sports or culture, is a source of inspiration for others and shows promise for the future.