Telling the story of victims of the benefits scandal through music
— The municipality of Rotterdam
In Rotterdam, thousands of families have been affected by the benefits scandal. Many young people carry the scars from this period. New Momentum, in collaboration with Perron14 and Quardin, and commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam, initiated a unique project to reach and inspire these young people: the music track “Excuses/Tegenwind” (Apologies/Headwind) by Stap Vooruit (Step Forward).
Excuses/Tegenwind is a track that tells the story of young people who grew up in families affected by the benefits scandal. These youth worked with writer-producer Vlins to transform their experiences and emotions into music. The track encourages peers to leave the past behind and confidently move towards the future.
Friction
New Momentum and conducted ten in-depth interviews with youth affected by the scandal. These conversations revealed the heartbreaking impact of the scandal but also the immense resilience of these young people. The interviews identified the key factors for recovery: being heard, receiving help, knowing where to start, and working hard.
The choice to create a music track was based on the Entertainment-Education strategy. This method uses storytelling in popular media to reach and inspire audiences that are difficult to reach. Music, with its ability to convey emotions, proved to be the ideal medium to tell the stories of the youth impacted by the benefits scandal and to motivate them to leave the past behind.
The strategy had three main goals:
- Reaching young people with music,
- Acknowledging their pain,
- Inspiring them to seek help.
By collaborating with a well-known producer like Vlins and involving the youth in the creative process, the authenticity of their stories was ensured and the impact maximized.
“I am 100% behind this track. Behind every word that is said in the song, and… yes, I can only say I am super proud of it.”
— One of the young people impacted by the benefits scandal that collaborated on Stap Vooruit.
Momentum
The track “Step Forward” was developed during intensive writing sessions with the youth and Vlins. The lyrics and music reflect their experiences, from pain and trauma to hope and optimism for the future.
In late 2023, the music video was pre-tested at an event for youth impacted by the benefits scandal in Rotterdam. The reactions were overwhelming: young people felt seen, heard, and inspired. The music and video extended a helping hand to peers: you are not alone, and together we can face the future.
“The video really touched me. It was very confronting, because I could recognize my own struggles in it. I think that’s true for a lot of us.”
— One of the young people impacted by the benefits scandal during the pre-test event.
Form
Leading up to the premiere, reaction videos featuring young people impacted by the benefits scandal where shared on social media to promote the launch event on July 12, 2024.
During that event, the Excuses/Tegenwind music video was premiered, plus participants took part in work shops where they were connected with social support organizations.