AMSTERDAM NIEUW-WEST — As schools across the Netherlands reopen after the summer holidays, children are returning to classrooms, routines and new learning opportunities. For some families, however, the start of a new school year also brings challenges that are less visible to the wider community.
This is the reality addressed by Mijn Toekomst – Jouw Toekomst (My Future – Your Future), a Road of Hope project focusing on the often unseen and underestimated experiences of undocumented children and their families in Amsterdam Nieuw-West.
On 4 September, the project organised the Parents Support Teaching session in a school in Nieuw-West. The sessions are held four times a year and aim to give parents more insight into their children’s development, while offering practical knowledge they can use in everyday life.
The first meeting focused on themes connected to children’s development and education, including brain development, stimulation, parents participation and the role of school. With the new school year just beginning, the timing provided an opportunity for parents to reflect on how they can support their children as they adapt to new routines and continue their learning.
Ten participants attended the meeting, representing a diverse range of backgrounds, including Dutch, Surinamese, Brazilian, Filipino, Ukrainian and Colombian communities.
The diversity of the group also highlighted an important aspect of the project: although families may have very different experiences and circumstances, parents often share similar questions about how to support their children’s development and participation in school and society.
The response from participants was positive. Among the feedback shared after the session were comments that it was “very informative” and that the parents received “good tips” they could apply in practice.
Through these recurring meetings, Mijn Toekomst – Jouw Toekomst seeks to create space for parents to learn, exchange experiences and strengthen their ability to support their children. In doing so, the project draws attention to the experiences of families whose challenges can easily remain outside the view of the wider community.
As another school year gets underway, the message from the first meeting is clear: supporting children’s development is not only about what happens inside the classroom. Parents, schools and communities all have a role to play in helping children feel supported and able to participate in their future.