AI is reshaping how we work faster than most institutions can respond to. Trust in governments and global bodies is thinning. The job market feels less like a ladder and more like shifting ground. For the students, young professionals, and career shifters who joined the Talent for Good Forum, the question was not abstract. It was the one sitting underneath every decision about where to take their career, and why.
For five years, the Talent for Good Fair has connected people to the organisations working on peace, justice, and humanitarian action across The Hague. This year, together with The Hague University of Applied Sciences, it became something more.
The Fair grew into the Talent for Good Forum: A full day with over 1000 participants, 60 impact-driven organisations, 12 skills workshops, 13 breakout sessions, a panel discussion, and high-level keynote speakers.
The morning’s focus was the career fair: the Netherlands’ largest career fair dedicated to impact-driven work. From international institutions like the International Criminal Court, the World Resources Institute, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to grassroots changemakers like Equal Trade Alliance, and Digital Child Rights, the Forum highlighted the diversity and scale of the impact-driven sector, showing participants the range of opportunities that The Hague has to offer.
The afternoon focused more concretely on the theme of the event: Shaping Trust in the Future. Princess Laurentien van Oranje and Emma Wedner, Chairperson of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth, opened a content programme of thirteen breakout sessions and a panel, each focusing on some aspect of trust. Trust under pressure in international law, in global trade, in governance, in technology, and trust in each other.
The theme was brought to life by asking participants, “What would make you have more trust in the future?”. While interviewing attendees throughout the day, it was clear that there was lot of people’s minds. Their answers were raw, urgent, and relatable. Many spoke about the need to hold governments more accountable. Others pushed for action on climate change. Some questioned how to counter increasingly polarized and radical societies. Their responses pushed us to reflect on what we need to improve trust in the future.
The Talent for Good Forum was co-organised by The Hague Humanity Hub and The Hague University of Applied Sciences with the support of the Municipality of The Hague, Work in South Holland, and Holland Park Media. These collaborations made space for the Forum to grow.
By creating a space for connection, the Forum continues to support positive changemakers in finding their place and purpose within The Hague’s peace and justice ecosystem.
Are you curious about this initiative or eager to get involved in future editions? Visit our Talent for Good page or reach out at talent@humanityhub.org!