​WE ARE THE SYSTEM: an afternoon with Peter Senge, exclusively for young people. May 13, Amsterdam

​Peter Senge is one of the most influential thinkers on how systems work — and how they change. He wrote The Fifth Discipline, is affiliated with MIT, and is an advisor to the Inner Development Goals: the movement that argues we can't solve the great challenges of our time without also looking inward.

​On May 13, he's in Amsterdam. Not to speak to a room full of CEOs, but to spend an afternoon exclusively with young people.

​WHO IT'S FOR

​Are you between 15 and 28, and does any of this sound familiar?

​It's a lot. The climate crisis, the pressure, the noise, all of it. And on top of that you're supposed to figure out who you are, contribute to something, and know what you want.

​You don't have to figure it out on your own. In fact, according to Senge, you can't. The questions of our time are too big for any one person. They call for thinking together, feeling together, building together.

​Do you feel it's time to do more than just talking, but do you actually want to contribute to where things go next? Together with other young people?

​Then you're in the right place.

​You don't need to have read The Fifth Discipline. You don't need to know anything about systems thinking. All you need is curiosity.

​WHAT TO EXPECT

​An afternoon where Peter Senge joins you and others to explore what systems change led by young people could actually look like.

​According to Senge, the problems of our time can't be solved by thinking harder or planning better. They can be solved by looking differently — at ourselves, at each other, and at the system we're part of. "We are the system," as he puts it.

​His conclusion is radically simple: change happens in the space between people who are truly thinking together. Senge doesn't hand out ready-made answers, but creates spaces where they can emerge. The core of his work: real change begins in that space: the third space.

​What comes out of it depends on who's in the room. Which means, on you ;)

​DETAILS: 

​⏱️ Time: Wednesday May 13, 16:00 - 20:00
📍 Location: The Attic, Nieuwe Herengracht 18 (Amsterdam)
🍽️ Food & Drinks: incl. for free
🎫 Tickets: Free, limited spots

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​WHO ELSE YOU'LL MEET

​Inner Development Goals (IDG) is an international movement that argues the SDGs can't be achieved without inner development. 23 skills — from self-awareness to empathy to systems thinking — that we need to truly address complex challenges.

​SDG Nederland is the national network for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. They connect people, organizations, and initiatives working toward a sustainable and fair world, organize the inspiring SDG Action Day on 24 September 2026 and bring the SDGs and IDGs into everyday life.

​Alles is Gezondheid ("Health is Everything") is the national network for a healthier Netherlands. They connect more than 3,000 organizations working to make health a natural part of work, school, neighborhoods, and daily life.

GeluksBV is a social enterprise dedicated to increasing 'Gross National Happiness'. They develop social innovations, such as Digital Buddies and Happiness Cafés, aimed at improving well-being, health, and social connection among young adults.

​IMAGINAL CELLS is building a movement in the Netherlands that normalizes inner development among young people. Through SPARK (Clubnights, Clubhouses, and Weekends), they create spaces where the noise from outside stops and you can hear what's inside, as “change starts within”.

​Global Shapers Community Amsterdam is part of a global network of young changemakers under 30, founded by the World Economic Forum. The Amsterdam hub works on local projects around social, economic, and ecological impact — from climate to inclusion to mental health.

International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) is the premier global network for teaching artists - also known as social practice artists - who use artistic practice to create social impact and educational change.