You are going to present a cheque for 14,000 euros to a primary school in The Hague next week. Where will the money raised come from?

"Bij Ons In De Residentie" is not only an annual magazine about inspiring people and businesses in The Hague, under the name BOIDR+ we hold small-scale networking dinners for charity four times a year. Half of the proceeds from those dinners go to charity. In this case, that is the P. Oosterlele School in Moerwijk, a problem neighbourhood where many children live with reading deficits. On top of the money contributed by the participants, two sponsors donated a large amount."

Why did you specifically choose this school?

"The school has a very inspiring headmaster, Mariska Wubben. She has traded a successful career in business for a job in education. Her school has children of more than 50 nationalities. She approaches all pupils in a very personal way and pays a lot of attention to reading skills."

Why do you care so much about the fate of these children?

"My father once came to the Netherlands as an Italian guest worker. From that background, I know how important it is for your social career not to have a language deficiency. The teaching methods Mariska Wubben uses at her school are very inventive. For instance, she works with the reading pen. This is a tool that children use in special booklets. When pupils slide the pen over certain words, they hear how they are pronounced."

And soon, therefore, an extra glossy out in English. Why that?

"There is a demand for it. The Hague lacks a quality medium in English, while we have a large international community and many interesting things are happening in the city. A magazine like this belongs in all places where many expats or foreign guests come, for instance in hotel rooms, restaurants and museums."