The Story of Sterre
Feeling Different as a Foster Child
“At school, children don't quite understand why I say 'Monique and Erik' instead of 'mommy and daddy'. At Mockingbird, I don't have to answer questions and I don't feel different.”
Mockingbird was brought to the Netherlands in 2021 by, among others, Kinderpostzegels, and is implemented by Ondersteuning Pleegzorg. The program is made possible by the Nationale Postcode Loterij and the Oranje Fonds.
"At Mockingbird, I feel no different from other children!" - Sterre (9)
The story of Chanchal (16) from India
Education is not a given
Due to poverty, many children abroad have to work to help their families. Girls, in particular, are at risk of dropping out of school and being married off young.
This was also a threat for Chanchal from India. After her father's death, her mother could barely support the family. Chanchal stopped attending school to help at home, and marriage was soon discussed.
Through our local partner, Chanchal found support from volunteers and peers. They talked to her mother about the risks of child marriage and the importance of education. With success: Chanchal is back in school and is working towards a future full of opportunities.
“When I’m angry, I lash out and am capable of destroying everything. I see my little brothers imitating me. Thanks to this exercise, I can now go home and sit down with them to start doing things differently.” - DIABOU (16)
The story of Megan (11)
Safe place
Megan has been living in a shelter for six months. "At home, it was anything but pleasant because there was a lot of arguing and shouting. This was because of my father, as he would get angry quickly and always wanted to get his way. One evening, my mother said we had to leave immediately. We couldn't pack any belongings or take clothes because there wasn't time. We were taken to a kind of shelter, and that's where we live now."
Kinderpostzegels helps children who lack a safe place. We do this by organizing projects in foster care and emergency shelters.
Het verhaal van Oumar (20) uit Senegal
Een voorbeeld voor anderen
De eerste keer dat we Oumar troffen was bij een training over mentale gezondheid. Een timide jongen met sprankelende ogen. "Hoe krijg ik mijn emoties onder controle? Ik heb de neiging de handdoek in de ring te gooien", vroeg hij onze trainer.
Een paar jaar later is hij dankzij de begeleiding van onze lokale partner uitgegroeid tot een student vol zelfvertrouwen. Hij lost problemen in zijn wijk en familie op en ondersteunt de volgende generatie. Zoals hier bij het voetbaltoernooi voor kinderen in zijn stad Tambacounda.
Children decide!
Only with children can we make a difference. For us, that means more than just participating: it's about real influence. Children think along, discuss along, and decide along on what affects them. This is reflected in initiatives such as the Children's Stamp Campaign and the Children's Wallet.