Local schools and Youth Education Fund team up to break poverty barriers for children
Alderman Puck de Nijs-Visser meets with primary schools to discuss how financial support from the Youth Education Fund is helping children in poverty access essentials like glasses, school trips, and beds. The initiative aims to level the playing field for students facing financial struggles at home.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Partnership Start | October 2025 |
| Number of Schools Involved | 5 primary schools in the municipality |
| Support Provided | Glasses, school trips, beds, learning materials, extra guidance |
| Local Donor | Protestant Community of Harenkarspel |
| Representative | Christine Huiskamp |
| Alderman | Puck de Nijs-Visser |
| Fund Name | Youth Education Fund |
| Impact Observed | Improved concentration, behavior, and well-being among supported children |
The municipality collaborates with schools and external funds like the Youth Education Fund to address socio-economic disparities among children. By facilitating access to resources, the local government plays a key role in ensuring equal opportunities for all students, particularly those from low-income families.
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We work together with schools, residents and the Youth Education Fund to create equal opportunities for children
More than six months after joining the Youth Education Fund, Alderman Puck de Nijs-Visser will engage in discussions with primary schools about the practical effects. The meeting will focus on one central theme: working together to ensure equal developmental opportunities for children growing up in poverty.
Collaboration that expands opportunities
In October 2025, we announced our partnership with the Youth Education Fund. Since then, five primary schools in our municipality have joined. They can apply for support through the fund when financial worries at home hinder a child’s learning or well-being. Examples include glasses, school trips, beds, learning materials, or extra guidance.
Connecting municipality, schools and residents
Representatives of a local donor will also be present to hear about the impact of their contribution. The donation comes from the Protestant Community of Harenkarspel. Christine Huiskamp represents this community. She organizes the annual collections within the church alongside a group of volunteers. The diaconate of the Protestant Community sees supporting children growing up in poverty as an important mission and finds the Youth Education Fund’s goals perfectly aligned with its own commitment to provide help where needed. We greatly value the involvement of residents and local initiatives.
Every child deserves a fair chance. I see how our schools make an incredible difference every day for students facing financial struggles at home. That’s why I want to hear directly from them about what works and what changes they observe. The collaboration between schools, the municipality, residents and the Youth Education Fund shows that together, we can truly make a difference for children in poverty.
Puck de Nijs-Visser
Alderman
Schools identify and support
In the Netherlands, many children grow up in poverty. Schools witness the daily impact: students arriving without breakfast, lacking glasses despite clear needs, or having no proper sleeping space at home. Thanks to the partnership with the Youth Education Fund, schools can quickly and effectively request support. Schools report visible improvements in concentration, behavior, and well-being.
About the Youth Education Fund
The Youth Education Fund supports primary schools across the Netherlands that work with students growing up in poverty. Financial assistance removes barriers that hinder children’s development. This can be individual support—such as glasses, beds, books, or coaching—or for the entire class, like transportation, museum visits, or school camps.