University and children’s charity join forces for equal opportunities in the Caribbean
The Leiden University Fund (LUF) has spent the past year working on a special partnership centred on an ambitious project in the Dutch Caribbean. Together with the Kinderpostzegels children’s charity, CEDE ARIUBA and Leiden University researchers, the LUF applied for National Postcode Lottery funding.
The result is the new ‘Resilient children, bright future’ programme, which starts next year on Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba.
The partners want to break the vicious circle of poverty, violence and inequality, so that evert child can grow up safely, build resilience and develop their talents. This will be close to home: working with local organisations, the initiative will open its doors to children, their families and community members in 12 neighbourhoods on the six islands. It will include five interventions focusing on talent development, parenting support, dialogue and more.
Measurable impact
Led by professors Judi Mesman and Ton Liefaard, researchers from Leiden University will play an important role in the project. With their expertise in children’s rights, pedagogy and impact research, they will ensure that the programme has a strong scientific grounding and that is closely monitored and evaluated. The scientific method is essential: by systematically measuring and analysing what works, the team will identify which interventions actually create lasting improvements.
‘Everything came together at the right moment.’
Fundraiser Madelon Rolleman from the LUF helped develop the project proposal for the Postcode Lottery. ‘Everything came together at the right moment: Judi Mesman and Ton Liefaard had just completed important research on parenting and family life in the Dutch Caribbean, while Kinderpostzegels were looking to increase their focus on the islands’, Rolleman explains. ‘And at the LUF, we were concentrating our efforts on the LUF Children’s Fund, which highlights the needs of vulnerable children. It soon became clear that joining forces would be worthwhile: to make a real difference and, through research, to better understand what really works.’
Thanks to the commitment of everyone involved, the initiative was given the green light this month. ‘It feels special to make this connection through the LUF’, says Rolleman. ‘We’re grateful to the Postcode Lottery for believing in the project and ensuring it can begin next year.’
Building tomorrow
The LUF brings together philanthropy and academic impact. As a fund or foundation, you can contribute to projects that align with your mission, values or goals. We’ll explore together how your support can make a difference.
For more information and advice, contact Madelon Rolleman at m.e.rolleman@luf.leidenuniv.nl or 071 527 2872.
Photo: Kinderpostzegels