The camp (from 17-21 July, every day from 8:30 –17:00, they don’t sleep over) is intended for children from 6-12 years of age. “The youngest children have to already be in group 3 of primary school,” says Netty Bekkers, one of the organisers. “This means that they have already spent one year of ‘real’ learning, which makes a big difference. We also have activities, such as a quest, for which they themselves – at their own level – have to be able to read.” A total of fifty children can participate, if we have more sign-ups, we will draw lots. “In the lottery, children from the same family are treated as one lot,” says Bekkers.
The idea came from UM Cares, the project that helps UM employees who are also carers to combine their caring tasks with their work or study. “The pilot should have actually started much sooner, but Covid got in the way,” says co-organiser Darshini Paltantewari. They started with a smaller group (26 children) last year. “We asked lecturers who had previously given a KidzCollege if they would be willing to give a workshop.” This led, for example, to a workshop ‘What happens when you break the law?’ as well as a visit to the Einstein Pathfinder. “But we also made pancakes with catering company Eurest,” says Paltantewari. “And there was a film morning in the auditorium of the School of Business and Economics. Most people like doing things for children, we received a lot of co-operation,” Bekkers adds.
The children are divided up into small groups led by students. “Last year, we not only saw how participants formed a real group, but also the leaders,” says Paltantewari. “It is intensive work, but you really see the children bloom, even when they are very shy. That gives so much satisfaction.”
The official language the whole week will be Dutch. Bekkers: “All children speak that even if they are growing up in an international family. Our letters to the parents are in both languages.” Everyone pays a contribution of one hundred euro. “Last year, there were people who said that they would be willing to pay more, but we want to keep it accessible for everyone. This comes down to twenty euro a day, including lunch and snacks, I think that that is affordable.”