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.

Belle spoke on Tuesday, 2 October, together with her teacher Lars Wouters, head of national aid at the Red Cross Netherlands Suzanne Segaar, and our director Hans Spekman, with the attending Members of Parliament. Belle and Lars told Laura Bromet, Laurens Dassen, Rob Jetten, Patrick van der Hoeff, Nico Uppelschoten, Anita Pijpelink, and Jelle Soepboer that learning does not go well when you are hungry. And that is why they are very happy with the school meals. “Students are now more focused. And because the food is for everyone, there is no more shame or distinction.”

Thank You Board

The MPs received a large thank you board, featuring a mosaic of colouring pages made by students from all over the country. They also listened to our plea to keep the control with the schools. It is important that schools can continue to choose whether to offer meals for all students or grocery cards for parents. And if they choose school meals, how they do it. After all, schools know best what their students need.

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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