Publisher Media Fresca dedicates its Kingstreet+ networking dinners to charity. Before starting this, we asked ourselves: which charity really suits us?

We chose language development in children. As journalists and content creators, we work with language every day. Reading and writing open worlds, expand opportunities and give self-confidence. That is why we want to commit to children, because they pick up language the quickest and can make a strong start.

Language development among children in disadvantaged neighbourhoods is particularly close to our hearts. Children who struggle with language often fall behind at an early age, and it is difficult to catch up. Reading comprehension, social interaction, self-confidence, language touches everything.

Editor-in-chief Annerieke Simeone knows from experience what language deficiency can do to someone. "My Italian father, who came to the Netherlands in the 1960s, never really mastered the language here. In big decisions, such as banking or mortgage matters, he always depended on my mother. Those who speak a language well are less dependent. We wish the same for these toddlers."

Kingstreet+

With the proceeds from our networking dinners (under the name Kingstreet+), we want to ensure that children get a better start and can develop optimally, without that disadvantage.

This year we are supporting the Dr J.A. Gerth van Wijkschool in Laak, a neighbourhood where many children grow up with a different mother tongue.

Support for the Dr J.A. Gerth van Wijkschool in Laak

The Dr J.A. Gerth van Wijkschool in Laak has a diverse group of pupils, many of whom speak a different language at home. Language proficiency is crucial for their future: it determines their success at school, their social contacts and their chances in the labour market.

With the proceeds from our Kingstreet+ networking dinners, we help these children by investing in:

• De Voorlezer: a 'talking' pen that reads out loud each highlighted word or associated picture.
• Bilingual children's books: books in multiple languages help children understand stories first in their mother tongue and then in Dutch.

Cooperation museum Huis van het boek / Meermanno

In addition, together with museum Huis van het boek / Meermanno, we will organise a special, creative day at the museum. With the proceeds from the networking dinners, we want to give these children the chance to discover their love for books in a playful and inspiring way while further developing their reading skills.

Three years of support for preschoolers at P. Oosterleeschool

In the past three years, we have been able to present a cheque three times to the P. Oosterleeschool in Moerwijk. This primary school has many pupils for whom Dutch is not the first language. Thanks to the proceeds from our dinners, we raised as much as €24,500, which we used to invest in, among other things:

• De Voorlezer: a 'talking' pen that reads out loud each highlighted word or associated picture.
• Bilingual children's books: books in multiple languages help children understand stories first in their mother tongue and then in Dutch.
• The BookaBookakast: an 'all you can eat' cabinet full of picture books.

Headmaster Mariska Wubben of P. Oosterleeschool:

"The BookaBookakast is our newest addition. The beauty of it is that children can first listen to their chosen book in a language of their choice and then in Dutch. Older children can also read on their own. It is a real success. Because they hear the story in their own language first, they then understand much better what it is about."

The children at P. Oosterlee School get read aloud from bilingual books.

Contribute to the future of these children!

Do you also want to contribute to language opportunities for children?

Then donate via:

SCOH The Hague, NL 68 ABNA 0257 805 451, stating Gift 17UD Dr J.A. Gerth van Wijkschool.

With your support, we will ensure that even more children get a strong language foundation and grow with confidence!