One Billion Rising is a campaign supporting women who have been beaten or raped, with the goal of raising awareness of the appalling statistic that 1 in every 3 women will be abused in such a way during their lifetime.

The theme for 2018 was “Solidarity Against the Exploitation of Women”, and since 2012 ‘flash mobs’ have been held worldwide every year as a way to get the word out and to show the public that this should not be tolerated. As a result of this, Valentine’s day this year was more than just the average day for students at Webster University Leiden.

After much planning and preparation, the students, along with a Women’s group from Amsterdam, met in the city center to perform a ‘flash mob’. Pink shirts were handed out, signs were made, and smiles were shared as they all gathered together to raise awareness for women without a voice.

Though a somber issue, the students enjoyed organizing such an event, drawing in participation from those in the Psychology and Media clubs, as well other students and professors from both on and off campus. The ‘flash mob’ itself was a huge success, and the turnout was larger than anyone expected. Along with the dance, Webster University also held a bake sale in honor of Bridge 2 Hope, donating all the money made from sales to them. Again, this was a success, as the students managed to receive around 250 euro in just two days! A rewarding experience for all, as students were not only exposed to how much of a problem this is in the modern day world, but also were given the opportunity to spend the day of love doing something out of love for the women who need it the most.

Riley Daniels, Student, Webster University, Leiden Campus

For photos of this and many other fundraising activities which have taken place over the past 4 years, please visit our ‘Events’ page. If you are interested in sponsoring a fundraising activity, please visit our ‘Get Involved’ page