Policy Plan. Stichting Beetje Beter Stichting Beetje Beter Nicolaas Beetslaan RD VOORBURG The Netherlands.

Transcription

1 Policy Plan Stichting Beetje Beter Stichting Beetje Beter Nicolaas Beetslaan RD VOORBURG The Netherlands

2 Policy Plan policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

3 Forword In front of you is Stichting Beetje Beter s policy plan of Stichting Beetje Beter stands for A Little Better Foundation and will be referred to as SBB from here on. At over four years since its creation we are pleased with the accomplished results, the valuable collaboration in Cambodia and our contributors trust. Four years ago we started off with three children. By now sixty children in Cambodia can go to school and nearly 180 children make use of our Learning Centres. We realise that the considerable growth of the past few years is reason for reflection: What size do we want to reach? What do we need to do to reach it? And how can we render that which has been accomplished permanent? What can be done better or differently? This policy plan describes the activities and policy for the coming years. This policy plan has been written for all those involved in SBB and especially for our (potential) contributors. At the same time it is a framework for the foundation within which it can further shape the policy for the coming years. Voorburg, December 2011 Stichting Beetje Beter Marc Niemeijer Ferrald Dunnink Ruud van der Maaten 2 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

4 Content Foreword... 2 Content... 2 Introduction Goal and method Mission and goal Method Why choose SBB Organisation The board Code of conduct Meeting cycle Volunteers Board of advice Dutch tax-deductibility Quality mark Annual account Local organisation in Cambodia Exucution Introduction Education and development programmes Selection and terms/conditions for participating children Size of the foundation Efflux Communication Introduction Website Newsletter Information material Finances Manner of canvassing money Costs Financial policy Future Colopfon policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

5 Introduction 4 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

6 Introduction Cambodia, June 2007 A repulsive stench, which cannot possibly be described. A merciless heat. Garbage tracks drive back and forth twenty-four hours a day, recklessly. Beneath the grey smoke of burnt rubbish is the dumpsite in Phnom Pehn, the capital of Cambodia. A world made of rubbish, built on garbage. Conditions in which hardly anyone reaches the age of fifty. Even in 2012 this place still shows a ruthless sight to a hopeless existence for the families that live and work on and around the rubbish dump. The dumping of rubbish has mostly stopped. Despite this, survival is still dependent upon the amount of valuable rubbish that is collected in other areas of the city. Collecting glass, plastic and cans is the only perspective to a minimal existence. All family members, including children, are expected to contribute to the daily meal. There is no time or money to go to school. SBB offers these children a chance to a better life through education. 5 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

7 Goal and method 6 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

8 1. Goal and method 1.1. Mission and goal SBB grew from a passion for travel and a common view for a better world. De foundation s mission is to make the world a little better by using few resources. SBB was founded in July 2007 and has its seat in Voorburg, a city in the Dutch province Zuid-Holland. For the time being the foundation is active in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and pursues the following goal: Offering children a chance to a better life through education. SBB s goal The manner in which SBB does this has been laid down by statute and is reached by: organising and financing small-scale projects for relief and education; stimulating and creating possibilities for education and care, also with help of the local population; contributing to existing projects which are aimed at underprivileged and poor children; collecting money through sponsoring and donations Method SBB s method is continually tested with the following conditions: Specific and practical; Direct, but durable results; Low overhead costs; Intensive collaboration with local population or parties; Balance between idealism and realism Why choose SBB Durable result SBB aims at the strength and existing power of underprivileged and poor people themselves. Loyalty and a maximum input of the local population is crucial for reaching a durable result. 7 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

9 Sensible Despite the bad circumstances, SBB works from the philosophy that children need to grow up in their own environment, with their own families, as much as possible. Because of this we usually don t put children in children s homes and we appeal to parents own responsibility instead. Children have a right to a future The possibility to follow an education breaks through the vicious circle the poorest in Cambodia are stuck in: without money there s no education, without an education there s (nearly) no work. Education offers opportunities, not merely for the child, but also for its family and country. Being able to account for every penny A careful and responsible financial policy means that every euro must be justified, whether it concerns school uniforms or paying for an operation. SBB finance resources which help education and health, but never hand out cash. To ensure equality, individual sponsoring for one child isn t possible. A Little Better SBB shows how few resources can help take small steps with positive consequences. This is reached thanks to a small-scale and personal approach. 8 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

10 Organisation 9 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

11 2. Organisation 2.1. The board The board is responsible for the administration, policy, financial management and the intern and extern communication. The foundation s board consists of three board members: a chairman, a secretary-treasurer and a board member with met general board duties. The board members do not receive a pay for their activities. The managers are assigned by the board for a permanent appointment. The managers are: Marc Niemeijer, chairman Ferrald Dunnink, secretary-treasurer Ruud van der Maaten. The board takes care of the daily business concerning the foundation s functioning and also ensures the execution of board decisions. The tasks are distributed over the three board members Code of conduct Integrity in the broadest sense is very important for the board. This means that conflicts between personal (financial) interests and membership of the board must be avoided. The costs board members make for meeting, etc. are not paid for by the foundation. Trips to Cambodia are paid for by board members themselves Meeting cycle The board meets at least six times a year and apart from that as often as two board members deem necessary. During the meeting the policy plan functions as a starting point to test progress with. Every board member can also come out with topics for the meeting Collaboration To guarantee feasibility and quality, SBB gets advice and support from a number of organisations (Impulsis), volunteers and (professional) advisors for the areas of, amongst others: financial policy; communication (i.e. website); canvassing sponsors and contributors; execution of projects. 10 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

12 2.5. Board of Advice The Board of Advice was founded in 2009 because of a need for feedback, inspiration, views, etc. from a different perspective, expertise or vision. The Board of Advice is not an official body and doesn t act with consultation. Every member of the Board of Advice takes part in the meetings with the board with a personal title. The advice is not binding. The board and the Board of Advice get together twice a year. The Board of Advice consists of the following people (in 2011): Marjolein Wirtz, Advisor Bijzonder Beheer en Incasso for Rabobank Utrecht and environs Ruud Beckers, Controller for CED International B.V. Jeroen Gerritsma, Solicitor for De Advocaten van Van Riet Arnoud Kuipers, Director KPMG Maas Simon, Account Director for Syntrus Achmea 2.6. Dutch tax-deductibility SBB has the ANBI status. This means the tax authorities acknowledge SBB as Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI), which roughly means Public Advancement Intended Institute. The advantage is that donations are entirely or partially tax-deductible within the Netherlands. Please ask whether this also counts for your own country Quality Mark SBB has consciously chosen not to apply for a (CBF) Quality Mark. The CBF keeps an eye on charities in the Netherlands. The reasoning behind this is that applying and the periodical reexamination are costly business. SBB wants the canvassed revenues to be used for the children in Cambodia as much as possible Annual account The board gives account for its policy in one calendar year through means of an annual account. This annual account appears annually before 1 April and is fully public and available on the website Local organisation in Cambodia SBB collaborates intensively with a team of local employees and offers more employment through this. The team is led by mister Kimlay Lim, our Cambodian collaboration partner, who has been working for the organisation since The employees receive a locally related salary. The employees are supported by a number of international volunteers. 11 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

13 Every month they report from Cambodia to the board. This report contains a financial overview, an account of the individual school performances and a list of the children s absence. The board and the collaboration partner maintain a weekly contact. Three times a year one of the board members travels to Cambodia to maintain personal relations and offer support in the execution. During these visits they extensively discuss the policy, the state of affairs and plans for the future with the collaboration partner and the local employees. Other activities during the visit are, for example: visiting (new) families; visiting the participating schools; undertaking an educational activity aimed at the children s general knowledge, which has become a tradition; testing the financial policy; etc. 12 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

14 Execution 13 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

15 3. Execution 3.1. Introduction Cambodia belongs to the poorest countries in the world, where it is not a matter of course that every child goes to school. Education in Cambodia is generally not free. Once they are four years old, children can go to school, and it is determined per child in which class it will end up. Apart from having to pay for their study material and school fees, the children also need to wear a school uniform Education and development programmes SBB carries out two programmes in Cambodia: Programme 1: Educational programme SBB helps children from families with no time and money to get their children to school. After all, it is expected that all family members, including the children, contribute to the daily meal. If the children go to school, they can no longer work on the rubbish dump. This means a loss of income for the family. SBB compensates these missing earnings by providing rice for the entire family. This programme s goal is to equip the child well enough for the job market. The children visit a regular school in Phnom Penh and also follow English and computer lessons in one of the Learning Centres. The team conducts the following activities: Making contact with the children daily to guard their progress and spot problems prematurely; Maintaining contact with the school weekly to discuss (school) results and attendance; Visiting the children s parents/guardians to discuss the progress and inform them about, amongst other things, the importance of education and hygiene. Fighting child labour starts by making the parents aware. The costs for education and study material is paid for. Apart from that, the children receive school uniforms, school bags, underwear and shoes. The children who do not live within walking distance of the school receive a bike. The children also receive medical care when the occasion arises and periodically they also receive dental care. 60 children (number in June 2011) follow the educational programme. The children are between 6 and 16 years old. After the child graduates from school it is assesses what it the quickest road to a job. Following professional training or not is assesses per child. 14 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

16 After finishing the educational programme, children are followed for one more year. At the end of that year it will be clear what the (durable) result is. Programme 2: Developmental programme SBB has founded two Learning Centres in Phnom Penh. English classes, homework supervision and computer classes are given to 180 children here, distributed over two locations. The Centres also pay attention to themes such as health, hygiene and social contact. The Learning Centres are also a pleasant place where children can meet and entertain each other. Both locations accommodate a small library. Children who follow the educational programme can come here after school as well. The Learning Centres occupy an important position in the communities. Parents are periodically invited for information meeting Selection and terms/conditions for participating children The selection of the children participating in one of the programmes is mostly in hands of the collaboration partner. There are no strict criteria for this. The board sets out minimum terms for admittance in programme 1: The child does not go to school without (SBB s) help; The family income is insufficient to let the child go to school; The family (the parents) must offer enough motivation and support to the child to be able to let it go to school. During the selection these terms are testes in their mutual connection. The conditions to take part are discussed with the parents beforehand: The child has to go to school every day; Going to school means attention for a good hygiene; The child is no longer allowed to work on the rubbish dump. In exchange for this the family receives rice Size of the foundation During the first year an average of four children per trimester started the educational programme. SBB has a maximum of 100 as the number of participating children and expects to be able to pursue this growth. SBB makes these choices carefully based on sufficient financial resources and available capacity (employees) in Cambodia and in the Netherlands. The number of children participating in the developmental programme in the two Learning Centres amounts to 180. This means the Learning Centres capacity has been utilised optimally. 15 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

17 3.5. Efflux SBB s approach is intended to help the children find a job and build a future which is a little better after they have finished their education. In 2012 SBB will carry out a project aimed at efflux, thanks to support of collaboration partner Impulsis. To aid in finding internships, learning/working trajecten and jobs, extra capacity will temporarily be deployed in Cambodia. 16 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

18 Communication 17 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

19 4. Communication 4.1. Introduction SBB finds it very important to offer information clearly and attractively to their contributors and other interested parties for low prices and to involve everyone in their work. This means that in this area we only work with volunteers. Openness and transparency are keywords in the communication. Not merely concerning SBB s method of working and financial position, but also concerning new plans, achieved successes or disappointments Website The website is an important means of communication for (potential) contributors and volunteers. Information about the project, the backgrounds and the participating children can be found on there. It is possible to become a contributor online. The website is continually improved and updated Newsletter The digital newsletter appears at least once every quarter and is sent to all interested parties. It is also posted on the website Information material SBB wants to invest very little in overhead costs. This means hardly any physical flyer material is developed. The communication is largely digital. Material is developed for certain projects or activities, for which we always seek out a sponsor. 18 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

20 Finances 19 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

21 5. Finances 5.1. Income SBB s activities are financed with donations, sponsoring and contributions. Collaboration partner Impulsis supports projects which are carried out in Cambodia. SBB works together with private individuals and organisations which deposit money incidentally or periodically. There is no minimum amount for this. Every little helps is the argument to canvassing contributors. We also regularly contact schools, institutions and companies to carry out projects of which the proceeds go to SBB Costs On average, allowing a child to go to school (programme 1) costs, of course dependent on the rate of the dollar, approximately 30 euros. This amount is built up as follows: starting costs (purchase of school uniform, underwear, shoes, books, teaching material, pencils, notebooks, possibly a bike, etc.); tuition; unforeseen (medial) costs; rice for the entire family; rent and maintenance of the teaching locations; local staff expenses. SBB spends her financial resources nearly entirely on her project. Because of this the other costs are practically negligible and are limited to the costs of webhosting, the costs of the Chamber of Commerce, etc Financial policy SBB spends the great majority of the money on direct help and carries out a careful and considered financial policy from the consciousness that promises to children must be kept and dreams need to be realised. This means that a financial policy which assumes that the current available property and pledges must at least be sufficient to be able to fulfil the commitments of the next two years. In other words, a child that starts the project can finish school. SBB s financial situation is entirely public. The annual account appears before 1 April every year and can be found on the website. 20 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

22 Future 21 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

23 6. Future SBB is convinced of the simplicity and value of small steps in the large whole. Nonetheless the foundation had ambition, which has been translated into concrete objectives for the coming three years: The amount of children will increase The prognosis is that the growth of the amount of children participating in the programme will increase. In 2013 the foundation wants 100 children to be able to participate in the educational programme. Of course this amount depends on the financial resources and the available capacity of manpower. In the middle of 2012 the policy with regard to the influx of the board will be determined, because choices must then be made regarding the criteria of the achieved result (i.e. the moment of efflux). An official organisation in Cambodia Setting up a certified foundation in Cambodia offers possibilities for further professionalization slants, which leads to chances of: grant opportunities (dependent on being a legal body in Cambodia), being able to hire local employees and general expansion of local activities. Canvassing contributors SBB employs a broad approach in canvassing contributors: Schools: the idea behind this is increasing the consciousness of children in het Netherlands of the contrasts in the world. Private individuals: the message lies in the foundation s name: all little things help. The bond with the contributors is of high importance (goal: continuation in flow of money). Companies: Anticipating socially sound entrepreneurship. This is not a trend, but the new form of entrepreneurship. SBB wants to establish and maintain long-term relationships with companies and to do this she makes use of her network. Binding volunteers and ambassadors It must be acknowledged that the current size of the team of volunteers is insufficient. SBB is searching for a team of permanent volunteers who can carry out tasks in the areas of fund-raising and sponsor activities. Efflux project Efflux is becoming an issue more and more. On the one hand efflux of children who need to leave the project prematurely due to all kinds of circumstances (moving, etc.) and on the other hand children who are finishing off their education. SBB s approach is intended to help the children find a job after finishing their education and build up a future which is a little better. For the first 22 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

24 category this means there needs to be a form of guidance to attempt to have the children finish their education elsewhere (at the moment this guidance is lacking and these children disappear from view). For the second category (luckily the largest group by far) this means a connection must be found with the Cambodian job market. Searching for internships, learning/working trajectories and actual jobs require many efforts from the Cambodian staff and cannot take off with the current staff. This means that extra capacity will temporarily be deployed in Cambodia in 2012 to set up the efflux project well, explore the local job market and build up a solid network there. In setting up the project we seek collaboration with the university in Phnom Penh. 23 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter

25 Colophon: Policy Plan Stichting Beetje Beter Determined in the Board Meeting of 1 December 2011 Text: Jacqueline Dunnink Photography: Hanne van Baarle 24 policy plan Stichting Beetje Beter