Growing up safely. That should be a given.
No child should grow up in an unsafe environment. Yet, for far too many children in the Netherlands, this is a daily reality. Behind more than 100,000 front doors, children are growing up in an unsafe home situation. A place that should offer protection and love, but where fear, tension, and violence prevail. For these children, home is not a safe haven. Unsafety at home is not always visible. It often happens behind closed doors. In tension at the kitchen table. In silence in the bedroom. Many children are scared. Or they don't dare to say anything. They think no one understands or can help them.
Instead of trust and joy, these children often feel fear and stress. This has major consequences. Growing up in an unsafe home environment makes it difficult to learn, play, and simply be a child. And this leaves deep marks, directly or later, such as mental or physical complaints. The most poignant fact: 8 out of 10 of these children do not receive help. That is why this year, together with you, we are taking action for children who are growing up in unsafe situations. We are drawing attention to this major problem. We are providing immediate support, help close to home, and ensuring that they are truly listened to.
Together, we can make a difference. Because growing up safely should be a given.
At our house, there was always arguing and shouting.
What we do for children in vulnerable situations
Hulp voor kinderen in vrouwen- en noodopvang
Each year, approximately 3,000 children end up here due to severe domestic violence and/or child abuse. Often, poverty, psychological problems, or addiction are also present simultaneously.
‘My mother, little brother, and I had to hide in the bathroom with the
door locked. I was really scared then.’
We organize projects in emergency and women's shelters, allowing children to be children again and find peace.
And more information about sports and dance in trauma processing.
Een stabiel thuisvoor pleegkinderen
Sometimes children are (temporarily) unable to live with their own parents. Foster care can then offer a solution. In the Netherlands, we have too few foster families for the number of children needing one. And existing foster families are often overburdened and lack support. As a result, children are repeatedly relocated or end up living (temporarily) in a family home or a residential group. With 'Mockingbird,' we connect foster families, making it easier for them to provide a loving and stable home for foster children. And these children also experience that they are not alone.
'I know now that I'm not alone, and that feels good.' - Milan (13)
Read more about Mockingbird.
grenzen aangevenom misbruik te stoppen
The latest figures show that, on average, two students per class experience sexual abuse. Therefore, it is important that children learn to set boundaries from a young age. Let's work together to ensure children feel safe enough to assert their boundaries. That is why we support a series of lessons on setting boundaries for groups 7/8 of primary school.
‘I didn't know I could feel boundaries in my body too’
There are children who don't feel safe, and I'm glad I can help them.
Talking helps
Villa Pinedo
Together with Villa Pinedo, we ensure that children have an (online) place where they can be themselves and where they are truly listened to. In an accessible way, children are given the space to talk about their parents' (high-conflict) divorce, everything that comes with it, and how they feel about it. They can contact Villa Pinedo for information, ask questions to other children, share experiences, or sign up for a Buddy.
Kindertelefoon en oudertelefoon
For 47 years, De Kindertelefoon (The Children's Helpline) has been the place in the Netherlands where children aged 8 to 18 can talk for free and anonymously about topics they don't dare, can't, or don't want to discuss in their own environment.
De Oudertelefoon (The Parents' Helpline) is available via phone and chat for parents and educators. You can always call them if you have questions, worries, doubts, problems, or just want to brainstorm.
Kinderrechtenhelpdesk
Children, (foster) parents, lawyers, aid workers, and other professionals can contact the Children's Rights Helpdesk if they have a question about children's rights. The Children's Rights Helpdesk is staffed by lawyers specialized in (inter)national children's rights. They provide free legal advice.
Figures from the Netherlands
Source of figures: NJI, CBS, Valente, Kindertelefoon and Kinderombudsman.
0
front doors behind which children are growing up in an unsafe home situation
average 2
children per class experience sexual abuse
0
children per year end up in women's and emergency shelters
8 out of 10
Children who experience physical violence, abuse or neglect do not receive help
More news about growing up safely
More news about growing up safely
Growing up safely. That should be a given.
Give to and help children growing up in unsafe environments.