OSS CONNECTS THROUGH THE GLOBAL GOALS 

Establishing connections was more important than ever in 2020. Entering into and maintaining partnerships to set and achieve sustainable goals together. Even though the attention was mostly focused on corona. In 2020, Oss continued to connect Global Goals to residents, students and entrepreneurs. During an economically difficult and uncertain year with the limitations due to the coronavirus, the municipality of Oss was able to organise a number of activities. It is precisely this crisis that has made it clear how important the connecting role is. Oss wants as many organisations, educational institutions, entrepreneurs, governments and citizens in Oss, but also far beyond, to work together to support the philosophy of the Global Goals. We apply our network to inspire people and to enable them and us to undertake sustainable activities together and contribute at a local level to achieving the Global Goals and ensuring a sustainable future for our residents. Through our contacts with the business community, education and society, we - as a local government - demonstrate how the Global Goals connect and contribute to a sustainable society.
There are many interesting examples, including:

• De Wasstraat: 'De Kracht van New Business Oss' helps companies in their sustainable developments in a practical way. In doing so, explicit attention is paid to the relationship with the Global Goals. De Kracht van New Business Oss is a collaboration between entrepreneurs, education and the municipality. More information can be found here.
• Entrepreneurs get to actively work with the Global Goals thanks to students: the Municipality of Oss connected the Arnhem and Nijmegen Universities of Applied Sciences with the Kracht van New Business Oss, Talentencampus Oss and Dome X, a meeting place for companies and organisations. Students were asked to draw up an action plan for the Global Goals for entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs were satisfied and impressed with the work of the students!
• Call for face masks: connection through togetherness. During the first lockdown, there appeared to be a huge shortage of face masks in healthcare. Alderman for Healthcare, Thijs van Kessel, therefore made an appeal on Facebook for face masks and other protective equipment. In less than a week, entrepreneurs and private individuals brought as many as 15,000 face masks and other supplies to the town hall. Officials were deployed to coordinate the collection and ensure that the items ended up in the right place.
• Day of Sustainable Packaging: Four students from the HAS University of Applied Sciences were asked to organise the national event 'Day of Sustainable Packaging' together with the Oss packaging industry. The purpose of this day was to draw national attention to the Oss packaging industry and to connect it to new parties for innovative partnerships. It turned out to be a successful online event with no fewer than 200 professionals from the packaging industry and education sector. In addition, the students laid a foundation for the Regional Deal project 'Circular Packaging Oss Innovation Programme'.
• The sustainable Water Playground Heraut: On Friday 3 July 2020, the youth college of the Municipality of Oss opened the Water Playground Heraut together with alderman Kees van Geffen. The equipment is made of natural materials, so that the project blends in with the existing nature.
• De Voetprint is a project of the youth council and the former Oss youth college. The name Voetprint ('Footprint' in English) refers to the term ‘ecological footprint’. It was established by students of ROC De Leijgraaf and the Oss company Baaijens Metaal on behalf of the municipality of Oss. De Voetprint has the shape of a green footprint, with pedals on both sides. Pedalling generates energy that can be used to charge one's phone.
   

In addition to these great examples, there are many more initiatives by the municipality of Oss related to the theme of connection: with students, the business community, researchers and citizens. The municipality is also engaged with the theme of connection online by organising webinars on various topics such as poverty, loneliness and fair fashion.

Global Goals, now is the time!
In 2020, the municipality of Oss has experienced that no crisis is too great and that the Global Goals are a source of inspiration and a leg up towards solutions that last longer than a pandemic. The limitations caused by corona did not stop Oss from engaging with the Global Goals, quite the contrary in fact.

We make the difference locally
After the first wave of the virus, we asked ourselves the question: how can we rebuild our society in the future? What can we learn from recent times? How can we hold on to the positive aspects of the corona crisis? We are convinced that as a local government, in addition to our regular tasks, we can connect students, entrepreneurs and residents along the lines of the Global Goals. Our aim is to permanently link the lessons from 2020 with the Global Goals. With even more conviction than before, we stimulate initiatives to reduce our footprint. We also make a big difference with local campaigns. That is what Oss is all about.

With all these inspiring initiatives, Oss contributes to various goals, of which goal 17 - collaboration to achieve goals - stands out the most. In addition, we contribute to goals such as working on good health and well-being (goal 3) and quality education (goal 4), but also goals aimed at nature and the climate, such as sustainable energy (goal 7), climate action (goal 13) and life on land (goal 15).