Project
Without a full command of the Dutch language, life in the Netherlands can be difficult. Children who are new to the Netherlands experience this challenge every day, especially when in their education. Rowan Huijgen, project manager of NIEUWsgierig (curious), wants to offer these children an extra opportunity.
“Equal opportunity is very important to the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Newcomers are often placed in classes where learning Dutch has the highest priority, which means they miss out on a lot of the fun stuff. That is why, with NIEUWsgierig, we engage their natural curiosity.” Children who participate in NIEUWsgierig investigate a subject of their choice, like soccer, neighborhood safety, monsters, or healthcare.
Children start their own research and present their findings to parents and fellow students. “Financial support from the Erasmus Trustfonds enabled us to offer the program to more schools across Rotterdam.” Because children pick their own topics, they are invested in the experiments and interviews they conduct. They also speak a lot of Dutch in the process. “But the most important thing is that the children are truly seen. We have one teacher per two children, so we can really offer them an attentive ear. And that makes me realize: we’re really doing the right thing here.
