28 August 2024

350,000 children show through drawings: continue with school meals.

A mosaic of children's drawings forming a plate of food adorns the back of today's Algemeen Dagblad. In the full-page advertisement, 350,000 children urge politicians to continue with school meals. Time is running out to prevent children from sitting in class hungry. Although most schools have resumed and the government programme is about to be presented, it is still unclear whether the School Meals Programme will continue after December 2024. Students, parents, and teachers are very concerned and participated en masse in a drawing campaign initiated by the Youth Education Fund.

Bitter Necessity

“For 350,000 children and their families, school meals or grocery vouchers for home are a bitter necessity,” says Hans Spekman, director of the Youth Education Fund. “They make the difference between an empty lunchbox and a full stomach. On behalf of these students, who have just started their new school year, we call on the government to allocate funds for school meals.”

Learning is easier on a full stomach

The School Meals Programme is jointly implemented by the Dutch Red Cross and the Youth Education Fund on behalf of the government. Over 2,200 schools provide meals to students or grocery vouchers to parents. Research shows that students can concentrate better in class, eat more vegetables and fruits, and families experience less financial stress.

Time is running out

“There is broad support among schools, society, and politics to maintain the School Meals Programme,” says Spekman. “It was included in various election programmes, including that of the VVD, the party of the three responsible ministers. School meals contribute to increasing equal opportunities, reducing (child) poverty, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among children. It’s a win-win situation. I can hardly imagine the government wanting to stop this programme, but time is running out.”

20 January 2025

“With a bit of effort, you can really make a difference.”

The Prins Willem Alexander School in The Hague has creatively utilised the school meals budget. Two initiatives stand out: the JEF cupboard, a giveaway cupboard for families, and the 'Full Tummies' project, where children take home a box full of groceries five times a year. Deputy Director Maxime van Boheemen and liaison officer Marloes Gaillard are passionately committed to projects that help families. Whenever possible, students are also involved.

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19 December 2024

Working Together: Festively Filled Christmas Box

At De Springplank in Zutphen, a primary school for special education in a beautiful new building, the extra December budget is given a creative twist. Mattias van Os, sports teacher and school meals coordinator, explains how they are giving out Christmas packages to students for the second year in a row at the start of the holiday.

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12 December 2024

Packing Christmas Packets Together with the School Meals Budget

Packing Christmas Packets Together with the School Meals Budget. Schools that offer meals receive an extra high budget in December. This allows for extras, such as a Christmas dinner or Christmas packets. At VSO de Monoliet in Leeuwarden, they chose the latter. Coordinator Klaas Nieuwhof enthusiastically explains: “We wanted to do something that not only benefits all students but also actively involves them.” The idea arose during a brainstorming session with the working group that Klaas and his colleagues, who organise the school meals, are part of. “We discussed how we could link this December activity to an internal internship,” Klaas explains. De Monoliet has a warehouse where a safe working environment can be simulated. "This provides our students with an educational place to develop practical skills with the aim of eventually being able to independently undertake external internships."

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03 October 2024

Students thank MPs for continuing school meals

Belle de Jong, a student at Pleysier College The Hague, handed over a large 'thank you board' to Members of Parliament on behalf of 350,000 fellow students. Thanks to their efforts, the School Meals Programme continues.

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17 September 2024

School meals will continue

Now that the Budget Memorandum has been presented on Prinsjesdag, we know for sure: school meals will go ahead! The budget includes a structural allocation of 135 million euros for school meals. “This is fantastic news for the 350,000 children for whom school meals make the difference between sitting in class hungry or not,” says Hans Spekman, director of the Youth Education Fund, which runs the School Meals Programme together with the Dutch Red Cross. “School meals contribute to increasing equal opportunities, reducing (child) poverty, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among children. Fortunately, the politicians see this too.”

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