First MDT Camp a Great Success: ‘This Makes Us Want More’

10 January, 2026

In December, 3X3 Unites organised an MDT camp for the first time: a new initiative for young people who have taken part in the 3X3 Leader Course. Melissa ’t Jong, Education Manager at 3X3 Unites, looks back on a very successful camp. ‘It was a fun and educational weekend, in which we brought together 3X3 Leaders from all over the Netherlands.’

3X3 Unites is involved in several large Social Service Time (MDT) projects and works closely with its partners Stichting Life Goals and the Cruyff Foundation. Within the MDT projects of 3X3 Unites, young people follow the 3X3 Leader Course: a nine-week programme in which participants learn life skills through 3x3 basketball, such as building a community, positive coaching and showing leadership.

In total, an MDT project takes 80 hours. Part of these hours is taken up by the 3X3 Leader Course; the remaining hours of social service time could be filled in by the young people themselves, for example by helping at events, activities in their neighbourhood, or at a school or sports club. ‘This allowed young people to choose for themselves what they wanted to do, but in practice this sometimes proved difficult,’ Melissa says.

That is why 3X3 Unites decided instead to set up an MDT camp, bringing the young people together to share a fun and educational experience. ‘When you think of a camp, you quickly think of games, but we also worked hard together. The young people were highly motivated, made new connections and worked on teambuilding.’

In total, 26 young people from Arnhem, Zwolle, Groningen, Utrecht, Bussum and Amersfoort attended the MDT camp in Ede. Divided into four groups, they worked on various themes together with a member of 3X3 Unites. How do we stay connected with each other? How can we get more girls involved in the activities? How do we lower the threshold between 3X3 Leaders and partners, and vice versa? And how do we keep it interesting for young people from Amsterdam to take part in the 3X3 Leader Course?

‘In the end, the idea was that all four groups would give a pitch,’ Melissa says. ‘They had to formulate an answer to the question of which first steps 3X3 Unites could take on these themes. A lot of great ideas came to the surface.’

The MDT camp fitted seamlessly with the vision of 3X3 Unites: continuing to challenge and guide young people in their development. In addition, Melissa saw another positive effect. ‘Previously, we let the young people go after the 3X3 Leader Course. With the MDT camp, we as 3X3 Unites can also show, in a low-threshold way, who we are, what else we do, and keep the young people more involved with 3X3 Unites.’

As for the question of whether 3X3 Unites plans to organise an MDT camp more often, Melissa does not have to think long. ‘Yes, without a doubt. Everyone agrees on that.’