Make Time for YOUR Ideas with Playground's Internship Programme
What if part of your studies could be spent developing your own ideas — projects that create real value for others, whether social, cultural, or financial — and count toward your degree?
At Playground’s Internship Programme, Joost, Bram, Yin, and Yeline are doing just that. In their first month, they’ve been exploring ideas and conducting research, learning together in a supportive, curious environment.
Curious as to what they’re working on and how they're finding the internship so far? Hear it from them!
Joost
Hi! I’m Joost (26), a Master’s student in Social, Health and Organisational Psychology. My internship focuses on developing a solution that gives organisations real-time insight into employee wellbeing.
My Mission
Too often, mental health issues in the workplace remain invisible until they escalate into burnout, absenteeism, or lost productivity. Current approaches rely on slow, theoretical reports that only highlight problems after the damage has been done.
My approach is to create a low-threshold solution that makes team wellbeing visible as it happens. This allows organisations to spot early signs of stress, adjust workloads, offer support, and prevent small problems from spiraling into crises.
My Goal
By the end of my internship, I want to have designed a working prototype. The solution should be user-friendly, low-threshold, and centralised, allowing organisations to track wellbeing patterns across teams, compare trends over time, and intervene where it matters most. My ultimate ambition? To launch a startup from this, whether the solution becomes a platform, a process model, or takes another form, as long as it can create real impact. I know building a company won’t happen overnight, but I am fully committed to putting in the effort to turn this idea into something tangible.
My “Aha!” Moment
I’ve spoken to 50 professionals so far, from HR managers to organisational heads and other representatives. Some are enthusiastic, some sceptical, and each perspective teaches me something new. These conversations are helping me understand where the tool could have the most impact, and my target audience is gradually becoming clearer. Right now, larger companies and remote teams look especially promising.
Reaching out can be nerve-wracking and exhausting (my LinkedIn is definitely working some serious overtime), but it’s essential. It’s not about the numbers; it’s about understanding who you’re designing for and what will genuinely be useful in their daily work. That’s the real learning: ideas only become meaningful when they meet the people who will actually use them.
Bram & Yin
Hi! We are Bram (24) and Yin (27) and we are currently enrolled in the Master’s programme Sociology: Contemporary Social Problems. Our internship focuses on applying sociological insights to real-world challenges and working on practical, socially impactful solutions.
Our Mission
Our project is called Utrecht Skills Pass. We’re exploring how a “Skills Pass” could help bridge the gap between status holders (refugees with residency status) and the Dutch labour market.
Many status holder have valuable skills, experience, and talents, but these are not always visible or easily recognised by employers. With the Skills Pass, we aim to make these competencies more transparent and accessible. The idea is that by clearly showcasing skills and capabilities, employers may feel less hesitant, and status holders can be better matched with meaningful job opportunities.
Our Goal
By the end of this internship, we hope to have taken the first real steps toward developing the concept of the Skills Pass as a potential social service. At the same time, we want to deepen our understanding of the barriers status holders face in the labour market and explore concrete, realistic ways to address them. Ultimately, we hope our work contributes to shaping a solution that can make a tangible social impact.
Our “Aha!” Moment
One surprising thing we’ve learned during our first month is how many people genuinely want to help. From people working at the municipality to professionals involved in implementation, many stakeholders are open to thinking along with us and contributing their ideas. That openness and willingness to collaborate really surprised us in a very positive way.
Another highlight has been the team environment. Our collaboration has been very good; we complement each other very well. Also, the startup-like atmosphere at Playground really encourages us to think creatively, experiment with ideas, and approach problems from new angles. It’s been incredibly energizing (we’re honestly pretty hyped about it!).
Yeline
Hiya! I’m Yeline, a Master’s student in Social Challenges, Policies, and Interventions. For my internship, I’m working on ASAP, a safety app that helps women feel safer by connecting them instantly with people they trust.
My Mission
My mission with ASAP is to address the “in-between” moments of fear women face daily — walking home, taking public transport, or going on a date. I want to turn that vulnerability into actionable support, giving women quick, reliable help before situations escalate.
My Goal
By the end of my internship, I hope to have a working prototype of ASAP. The app will include features like SOS notifications on your lock screen, live location sharing, instant call-backs, and check-ins. I’m also taking steps to build a community around social safety, starting with my first event at Playground on April 13th, 2026.
My “Aha!” Moment
Working on ASAP has shown me how much responsibility comes with starting something of your own — knowing this app could help so many women makes me excited and motivated to give it my all. At the same time, I’m learning that taking breaks and keeping some balance in my life isn’t a luxury, it’s necessary. Part of that balance comes from realising I don’t have to do everything myself — thinking ahead about building a team and delegating tasks is just as important as the work I do personally. Learning to manage that responsibility while protecting my own energy has been one of the most important lessons so far.