Thought Leader Thursday | Hans Christiaanse about child poverty: 'Children find exclusion the worst, not the lack of money.'

In the interview series 'Thoughtleader Thursday' we speak to an expert in the field of a specific issue every Thursday. While the corona crisis shook up the entire society, we are curious about what consequences this has had on the issue management and creation of these Thoughtleaders. Today Hans Christiaanse, initiator of the Child Poverty Alliance, is our guest. We asked him more about this issue, which is so close to his heart and about which, in his opinion, there is still too little awareness.

What were the expectations regarding your issue before the corona crisis started? 

Awareness is an important part of putting this issue on the agenda and was already so before the crisis. By allocating a large budget for media attention, we planned to reach the general public with the public academies. We noticed that the issue of child poverty was growing before the crisis. Together with DPG and NDC media group we were organizing 7 public academies, with separate academies per region subthemes would be discussed.  

The first took place in Zoetermeer in February, with a focus on the theme of child poverty and housing. Due to corona and the preference for physical meetings of partners from the regions, it has been decided to postpone the rest of the planned public academies.

What happened to the issue during the crisis? 

Poverty among children is expected to have increased during the corona crisis. That is why we are committed to putting this issue on the agenda at this time by organizing various initiatives. In Waalwijk, for example, two councilors entered into discussions with children, young people and parents about the subject of child poverty. A documentary was made here together with journalists, in which contact was made with, among other things, a school in Nepal. Prime Minister Rutte was also involved in the documentary. He also knows that due to layoffs and bankruptcies as a result of the corona crisis many more families will fall into poverty.

Fortunately, despite the corona crisis, child poverty is still firmly on the political agenda. Since the party programs are written in the summer, we organized a webcast this summer. Princess Laurentien, the Ombudsman for Children, chairperson SME Netherlands, four MPs, experts and a pediatrician were present. After this webcast, the MPs asked for ready-made texts for the election manifestos. A good sign, because this provides an immediate effect. All in all, I think that the corona crisis has had both positive and negative effects on our activities around the issue of child poverty." 

What is the current status of the issue? 

“Awareness is still very important at the moment. Major steps need to be taken, especially at policy level. Children who have lived in poverty in the Netherlands indicate that they have mainly found social exclusion very difficult. Pain in the stomach when the birthday was approaching and no treats could be given and the inability to be honest about the home situation. Children generally find the exclusion the worst, not the lack of money. 

We also hope that the business community will become more aware of the problems surrounding child poverty and the effects this has on children. After all, these are the future employees. Companies can do much more than they may realize. By offering their parents more job and income security or by having employees guide children who have a poverty situation at home. With their homework, study or career choice or use of their free time, in order to let these children experience that things can be done differently and to encourage them to get more out of themselves. .

 WWhat are you going to do with the issue in the near future? 

“Poverty is number 1 Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, in 2017 the ombudsman and SER report already paid attention to. The emphasis from these authorities was already there, but there is still little awareness about the problem among the general public. More attention should be paid to this in the future. I expect that the public academies – with their treatment of social themes – are extremely suitable for this.  We will also invest more time in municipal meetings and exchanges between municipalities and draw attention to the highlighted themes of the political parties. What would I really like to achieve? A society in which children feel heard, in which adults are aware of the role of social exclusion and where every individual is aware of the situation of his or her neighbors and realizes that they can do something about it themselves.”