January 16, 2020
Sam& for a country without child poverty
Child poverty is more common than many people think. For example, 70% of the Dutch population underestimates the number of children living below the poverty line or indicates they have no idea of the extent of child poverty. This is evident from research by Sam&Convinced that we can only solve this problem together, the campaign "Sam& for a country without child poverty" is launched today, January 16, 2020.
In the Netherlands, 315,000* children and young people under the age of 21 are growing up in poverty. This number is higher than most Dutch people think. Five in ten people significantly underestimate the number of children living below the poverty line, and 20 percent indicate they don't know how many children in the Netherlands are growing up in poverty. Furthermore, a large majority indicate they don't know of any families they know or suspect live below the poverty line. This is despite the fact that 1 in 12 children and young people in the Netherlands is growing up in a family that can barely make ends meet financially. That's an average of two children per class. They are often unable to participate in sports, dance lessons, or school activities because there's little money at home.
“Something that seems very normal to the outside world, such as celebrating a birthday with friends or a family outing, is not an option for these children without support,” says Monique Maks, director of the Youth Fund Sport & Culture and board member of Sam&.
About Sam&
Sam& offers a single digital portal where parents and intermediaries (such as teachers, debt counselors, general practitioners, or neighborhood teams) can easily apply for multiple services for children, including education, sports, culture, birthday celebrations, and leisure time.
Sam& is a partnership between Leergeld Nederland, the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture, the Jarige Job Foundation, and the National Child Welfare Fund. Together, these funds support children growing up in families with limited financial resources. Sam& does this in collaboration with municipalities, local partners, and businesses including Rabobank.
*Source SCP 'Poverty Mapping 2019'
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