“This is the best day of my life”
Free after-school care through NPO subsidy 2Diamanten

Peter: “We experience differences in language development and (social) poverty. The municipality is actively committed to a good start at primary school, by subsidizing preschool education for toddlers from 2,5 to 4 years old. But when children go to primary school, the school support and guidance 'must' be sufficient. Because often one or both of their parents are at home due to circumstances, the right to childcare allowance expires. That is why childcare is not always affordable for families and children who really need it.”

Lotte: “We want every child to be seen and heard. These ten children experience their two BSO days the same as anyone else. Being able to play together after school should actually be normal. Thanks to the subsidy, we can offer just a few more activities than usual. You see the children blossom before your eyes. They experiment, move, learn and develop together. And when you hear 'this is the best day of my life' from a child whose home situation you know is not pleasant? Then you immediately feel: this is what you do it for at a social childcare center like 2Samen.”

What does the subsidy mean for the BSO students? 

Lotte, BSO/school coordinator and responsible for this BSO pilot group: “Our goal is to offer challenging activities, so that every child has an equal opportunity to discover and develop his or her talents. With the NPO subsidy we can organize just that little bit more, through our KICKS-program or through our network. Think of skateboarding, digital skills, cooking, graffiti and ball games. We start at 14.00:XNUMX PM outside, in the De Horst park behind our building with a large playground, a skate park and a sports field. Twice a week Nigel, an athlete who grew up in this neighborhood, gives them soccer or basketball training. Nigel's brother Ray recently gave a kickboxing workshop. We got in touch with them via The Lightpoints of Mariahoeve. They provide small, kind acts to alleviate loneliness and poverty. In January, we want to organize a cool cooking workshop with and at Lichtpuntjes for ten of their children and ten of our children. So, plenty of ideas!”

Who do you work with in 'your network'?

Peter, Location coordinator and Educational employee at 2Diamanten: “Where possible, we work as an after-school care team, the childcare workers Natascha and Katja and KICKS together with all kinds of partners. For example, during the summer holidays we organised a four-day summer holiday festival in De Horst park. It is for those who do not have the (financial) space to go on holiday. In this way, we want to prevent children from sitting at home, gaming and speaking less Dutch than at school. Moreover, it meets the wish of parents and children for an alternative summer programme. During a meeting about the future of Mariahoeve, we discussed the lack of summer school and facilities for this target group and our wish to organise this festival with someone from Stage North and colleagues Elsien (Education project manager) and Mark (BSO coordinator at 2LeeuwerikenThe idea was immediately embraced by Bright spots, Podium North and DAK childcare centers and later also closed CultuurSwitch, Neighborhood en Magic Forest on. This is how the collaboration started to get all (almost) free events in the summer in one agenda. The programming was coordinated and we took care of the only free festival day ourselves. With an attendance of almost 100 children per festival day and sponsorship such as the fruit by the Fruit and vegetable boutique in shopping center Little Loo, we call it more than successful. Let's repeat it next year. Then without subsidy and possibly with other locations of 2Samen and partners in the Haagse Hout district.”

What do you experience? What gives you energy?

Lotte: “To be honest, this is quite a tough BSO location. Of course, we have carefully coordinated with the IB'er of KC Diamant which ten children would benefit most from participating in this pilot. They will join the regular BSO group on two days. Apart from that, around 50 different nationalities and cultures come to this school. You can see that in our BSO as well. We try to bring them together into a harmonious group. No, it is not always easy, especially if you do not speak or understand each other's language very well. On the other hand, the children are very happy and grateful that they can come to us. You feel that, you see that and you hear that. For example, in passing when they say with shining eyes: 'I will come to you again tomorrow, right?'. Wonderful. My day is a success then.”

Peter: “We are already investigating how we can continue the trial period of free BSO in February 20225, when the subsidy ends. Together for the children and their parents. If that works… I look forward to it and that gives me energy.”