Support alliance child poverty.

Support alliance child poverty.

On 26 March 2019 the launch of the alliance against child poverty took place. Actively contributing to reducing the effects of child poverty. That was the promise of the 100 partners who signed the covenant. Ouders & Onderwijs also wants to contribute and therefore signed the covenant.

Child poverty in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands no less than 378,000 children and young people grow up in poverty. That means that 1 in 9 children and young people worry if there is enough money for food or school supplies. They feel the stress of their parents, are tense themselves, and find it harder to concentrate at school. Because they cannot fully join activities inside and outside school for financial reasons, these children face a bigger risk of social exclusion. In the long term, there are also big health risks for children who grow up in poverty.

Do not exclude children from activities at school

Ouders & Onderwijs joined the alliance against child poverty because there are still children who suffer at school from the effects of poverty at home. When parents do not pay the voluntary parent contribution, children are often still excluded from activities. That must stop. Extra attention is also needed for equal chances in school choice, homework help, and the physical and mental health of children.

Director Lobke Vlaming: “Almost 400,000 (!) children currently live in poverty in the Netherlands. And we still have difficult discussions with schools that exclude children if the parent contribution is not paid. Shall we stop that?”

Goal of the alliance

All partners of the alliance against child poverty, including Ouders & Onderwijs, want to end child poverty. In 2030, children must no longer suffer from poverty and no new families must fall into poverty. The alliance brings organizations from all parts of society together to find (new) creative and smart solutions to fight child poverty. There is room for new and existing initiatives. See below video for more information.