From coffee to community: discover three tasty new hotspots on campus

Mounir Toub, manager and founder of Bakkie040 and Happie040, comes straight over as we enter his restaurant in the Pollux student tower. He eagerly begins to tell us about Bakkie040 and Happie040, and the story behind this social initiative from the Eindhoven-based foundation Springplank040.

Years ago, Toub was what's called a "couch surfer," without a home of his own. "I slept wherever I was welcome after losing my home following a bitter divorce and mounting debts," Toub recalls. "I had nothing left, except a strong faith, a strong body, a first circle of family and friends, and a lot of energy."

Cooking at the day center

Toub ended up at Springplank040, an Eindhoven-based foundation that supports homeless and vulnerably housed people. They do this by offering guidance in areas such as housing, work, and social participation.

By then, he had gotten his life back on track. He was out of debt, remarried, and had a home again. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he was asked if he wanted to cook meals at Springplank for the homeless and vulnerably housed.