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From Snoopy to Zo Although structured and organised childcare was very uncommon in the south-west of the Netherlands in the eighties, Marion Jansen and Sjaak Koek, Zo’s founders, knew exactly what they wanted - and persevered. ‘Every weekend the whole family worked together to convert a stable into a day-care centre.’ ‘I‘Starting a childcare facility had been on our minds for many years,’ Marion remembers when thinking back to the start of their organisation. She was already working with children, but had different ideas from her employers about interacting with children. ‘I wanted a facility I could put my own feelings into, so that I could create a warm place where children could be themselves,’ she explains. When this facility became reality her fondest dream came true. Snoopy Without knowing if there was any real interest, Sjaak and Marion started their day-care centre, although it wasn’t called a day-care centre at that time. ‘The municipality of Halsteren did not really know what to think of our plans,’ Marion tells. ‘But we were allowed to start with the promise that if there was enough interest we would get planning permission to convert the horse stable in the meadow behind our house into a day-care centre.’ Daughter Corona, the current director and owner of Zo, came up with the name for the centre: Snoopy. And the converted horse stable? Many alterations later this centre is still part of Zo. No financial aid While Marion focussed on the children, Sjaak dealt with the organisation and its set-up. ‘Our wish was to set up our own company, which would allow us to make a contribution to society. This is why we deliberately chose not to apply for any financial aid from the government. We wanted to ING feliciteert Zo Unltd B.V. met haar 20 jarig jubileum. Baby, Dreumes, Peuter, Tiener, KDV, PSZ, BSO, Brede, School, Zorg, Boeken, Banken, Meubilair, Creatieve Materialen, Kwaliteit, Advies, Compleet, Materiaal, Speellokaal, Speltoestel, Fietsjes, Ontwikkeling, Bedden, Ledikanten, Knutselen, Comfort, Kantoorartikelen, Montessori, Taal, VVE, EHBO, Hygiëne, Servies, Thematisch, ICT, Gymmen, Speelhuizen, Ontdekken, Motoriek, Boxen, Grondboxen, Commode, Verschonen, Kasten, Leidsterstoelen, Krukken, Tabouret, Pennen, Potloden, Verf, Papier, Constructie, Bouwen, Speeltafels, Visuele ontwikkeling, Motorische ontwikkeling, Illusiespel, Verkleden, Muziek, Disco, Glijbaan, Bewegingsmateriaal, Expressie, Visueel, Tellen, Sortereg, Zelfstandig werken, Spelen, Zandbak, Zand-Watertafel, Kleien, Verven, Lijmen, Boetseren, Knutselen, Kindcentra, Snoezelen Tekenen, Kleuren, Inrichting, Nietmachine, inrichten, Peuter, Klantvriendelijk, Puzzelen, Combinatie- toestellen, Zittie, BCI, Spelletjes, Eibe, Nenko, Snoezelen, Babyzitjes, Wipstoeltje, Eetstoelen, Zitten, Slapen, Opbergen, Loungen, Speelplaats, Speelbox, Verschonen, Motoriek, VVE, ONtdekken, Loungen, Bouwen, BSO, Boeken, Banken, Meubilair, Totaal Leverancier, Natuur, Kwaliteit, Advies, www.alberts-kinderopvang.nl Peuterspeelzaal, Materiaal, Speellokaal, Speltoestel, Fietsjes, Ontwikkeling, Bedden, Ledikanten, Knutselen, Comfort, Kantoorartikelen, Montessori, Taal, VVE, EHBO, Meedenkend, Verschonen, Naruur, Dreumes, Beddenscan comply with all the prevailing standards of that time, but refused to be constrained by any government funding and the attendant interference of civil servants who at that time knew very little about childcare,’ Sjaak explains about their motives. The guiding principle of their undertaking was realising Marion’s vision of childcare. A hectic start Sjaak remembers the problems they came across during those early stages. ‘Getting permission to set up the organisation and all the requirements a day-care centre had to comply with were complicated. One day we even witnessed a heated discussion between the fire department and a childcare official about the direction of the rotation of a door.’ For Marion, this first phase felt very hectic and exciting. ‘From day one the day-care centre was a hit, many parents wanted a place for their child. This meant hard work, for the whole family. Our house was taken over by children, cots, playpens, bottles, juices and snacks. Mark and Corona, our own children, had to make some sacrifices, there were extra beds in their rooms and the house was constantly filled with the sounds of children. However, we were realising our dream and vision.’ Renovating Despite the hectic start, Snoopy soon proved to be a success, so they could start on the conversion of the stable. ‘Every weekend the whole family worked on the renovation. On Friday night we would count that week’s takings, and all of them were immediately invested in the new building. A year later it was finished. ‘We now had a proper day-care centre with a beautiful, spacious and natural garden,’ Marion tells. Children’s interests at heart In the years that followed, Sjaak and Marion further expanded their company, which was the foundation for Zo Kinderdagverblijf & BSO. The centres in The Hague were opened under the name Crèche Teddy Bear. A whole new group of customers and a new set of local conditions. But the idea was also a success in The Hague and the organisation continued to flourish. What was the secret behind this success? ‘In the childcare sector your organisation needs to be well managed, well organised and of high quality in order for you to survive,’ Sjaak explains. ‘This can sometimes cause friction. In those situations we always separated our roles; Marion would focus on the children’s interests and I would watch over the continued existence of our organisation, the commercial side, so to speak. We always made sure those two sides did not get in each other’s way. This sometimes led to difficult decisions, but in the end the children’s interests would always come first.’ Gefeliciteerd! Als persoon en als notariskantoor ben ik altijd betrokken bij ZO Kinderopvang. Als vader vertrouwde ik 11 jaar geleden onze oudste zoon toe aan de bekwame leidsters van ZO op de 2e Sweelinckstraat en onze jongste zoon heeft 4 jaar lang een fantastische tijd gehad bij ZO op het Oosteinde. Als notaris kantoor hebben wij vele malen Sjaak en Corona Koek mogen bijstaan bij hun bedrijfsvoering van ZO Kinderopvang. Ik feliciteer hun van harte met het 20 jarige bestaan van ZO. Op naar de volgende 20 jaar! Matthijs van den Hout (KraGd Notariaat) Schaafwond! Water of pleister? Ook zo’n wildebras in huis, die regelmatig een schaafwond heeft? Weet ú wat u moet doen? Kijk op de website www.ehbo.nl/ouders voor het juiste antwoord. Scheveningseweg 44 2517 KV Den Haag communicatie@ehbo.nl www.ehbo.nl
Every child deserves a birthday present Poverty can lead to a child becoming isolated. To prevent this from happening Stichting Leergeld (‘Tuition Foundation’) makes sure that children are able to go to sports or music clubs and get to treat their class at school on their birthday. ‘If a child cannot give out treats at school on his birthday, it becomes a sad day’ ‘Participation is the most important factor in overcoming poverty,’ explains Anita Schwab. Anita is the office manager for Stichting Leergeld in The Hague. ‘It is not only the financial situation that is important, but particularly the environment a child is in,’ she continues. When there is not enough money, children might not be able to go out and do things, so they mainly stay at home, where hardly anyone comes by to visit. The chances of a child being lonely will then be very high. ‘This will prevent a child from experiencing new ideas, and from gaining much-needed spiritual growth and development,’ Anita Schwab explains. To overcome this isolation Stichting Leergeld offers these children the chance to go to sports and cultural clubs. ‘If children go out and undertake activities, they will meet other children, with different backgrounds and interests and from different cultures. This will help their self-development.’ Stichting Leergeld also provides the children with bikes so that they have transport to get to activities. Being mobile is one of the conditions for participation. Cost saving Mr Kools, coordinator at Stichting Leergeld in Bergen op Zoom, and Ms Helmig, founder and intermediary, explain how Stichting Leergeld operates. ‘Families with financial needs can register with our foundation. An intermediary will then look at their financial situation. If a family is eligible for a contribution, this will either be given in kind or paid directly to a third party. This way the money will be spent on the right causes.’ In addition to financial support the foundation also offers advice on how to save on costs. Birthday treats One of the foundation’s new initiatives is Jarige Job (‘Birthday boy or girl’). ‘A birthday should be a happy occasion for every child. But for some children it turns into a sad day, because, for instance, they are not able to treat their class at school. Jarige Job helps out those children whose parents are forced to go to the Food Bank, by providing them with a birthday box for their birthday,’ Anita Schwab explains. The box contains presents for the birthday boy or girl, a treat to be handed out in class, decorations and a cake. In the Hague area alone there are nearly a thousand children in this position, and around 60,000 throughout the Netherlands. Together with volunteers and children ‘These children are not just children from Jarige Job or Stichting Leergeld, they are the children of our society and all of us should feel a bit responsible for them’ from the Esloo school in The Hague, Anita Schwab makes sure the boxes are packed and delivered to the Food Bank on time. Support Stichting Leergeld and the Jarige Job initiative would not be able to survive without the support of other parties. ‘Some companies offer products such as face paint, hair brushes and mirrors. And churches and super markets collect money,’ says Anita Schwab. In Bergen op Zoom and in The Hague the foundation is funded by the municipality. But this funding is ‘Suitable items for the birthday boxes are always more than welcome’ decreasing, and in both Bergen op Zoom and The Hague the foundation has noticed an increased demand. Therefore all support is more than welcome. ‘Companies can support us financially, but also by donating products that appeal to children. If people have things at home that might be suitable for the birthday boxes, we would of course love to receive these, ‘Anita explains. Despite the funding from companies and the municipality, Stichting Leergeld would much appreciate financial support from society to help with these initiatives. ‘These children are not just children from Jarige Job or Stichting Leer- geld, they are the children of our society and all of us should feel a little bit responsible for them,’ Anita states. Tom Kools fully agrees: ‘Better to invest money in children now, than to be faced with the financial consequences of a young adult that is lost to society.’ What is Stichting Leergeld? Stichting Leergeld was set up about twelve years ago and has its origins in the Vincentiusvereniging (Society of Saint Vincent de Paul). It started out by collecting funds to buy school supplies, after teachers noticed that some of their students were unable to buy these basic things. Now Stichting Leergeld has grown into a national organisation that operates in several cities throughout the Netherlands. Stichting Leergeld’s objective is to prevent children between the ages of four and eighteen from becoming isolated. Jarige Job is the foundation’s initiative that aims to give all children a happy birthday. Location manager Ilse: ‘During the last few years I have laughed and cried, learned and triumphed. Zo Kinderopvang & BSO is a wonderful place to work, where you can learn, develop and put your own talents to use’ Uw heldere partner in glas Piket glashandel Westduinweg 186 B 2583 AG DEN HAAG Tel. (070) 355 12 62 www.piketglas.nl Wij leveren en plaatsen alle soorten glas en kunststof en wij hebben een 24-uurs dag, nacht en weekend servicedienst voor spoed- en noodgevallen. Of het gaat om uw verzekeringen, hypotheek of pensioen, zoek dan iets wat bij u past! Van der Schoor & Partners heeft adviseurs die u graag beter willen leren kennen en op een persoonlijke en deskundige manier verder willen helpen! Bent u geïnteresseerd? Neem dan vrijblijvend contact op met één van onze onafhankelijke adviseurs. T. 0174- 270380 E. info@schoorpartners.nl W. www.schoorpartners.nl
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Page 5 and 6: Enthusiastic children, pleased pare
Page 7 and 8: Childcare offers added value, for p

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