Dragonfly together with National Fund for Children’s Aid
For many children, the summer holidays are the best time of the year. But unfortunately that is not the case for everyone. In the Netherlands, 1 in 12 children grows up in poverty. As a result, they have to miss many things that may be obvious to others, such as toys for playing outside or a day at the pool.
Saïda (51) can talk about this. Her financial situation changed completely when, as a single mother of three, she became responsible for the care of two orphans overnight.
Practice Nurse
Saïda had it all together: she was married, lived with her husband and three children in a private house and worked as a practice nurse. Saïda: “In my work I nursed a woman with whom I had a good click. Our children were the same age and knew each other from playing outside. When the woman became seriously ill in 2014, she asked me to keep an eye on her when she was gone. I promised her that I would look after her husband and children – a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son.”
Not picked up yet
After the mother died, Saïda tried to help the family where she could. She called the father every week to ask how she was doing and if she had leftover food, she brought it to the family. “The father had a hard time, so I often took care of the children. They even stayed over once a month.”
Saida: “It is terrible to lose your mother at such a young age. When the children stayed with us, I tried to take extra good care of them. The children could play with each other, we often went out for a day and they got good food.”
It went on like this for two years, until one day the children’s school called. “The father had apparently given me up as a contact person. The teacher wondered where he was: it was now half past four and the children had still not been picked up.”
Heart attack
Saïda knew right away that something was wrong. She drove to the father’s house and when it didn’t open, she called the police. He forced the door and discovered that the man had died of a heart attack. “I immediately thought of the children. I picked them up from school, told them that the father was seriously ill and that we were going to my house.” In consultation with the police, Saïda decided to take care of the children until they knew how to proceed.
On the couch
Saïda had just been divorced and lived with her children in an apartment. They had to give up their room and she herself slept on the couch. “It was a difficult situation, but the kids got along well.” After a while, it was decided in consultation with Youth Care that the children could stay with Saïda. “The first two years were very difficult. The new children were in a lot of grief and I worked hard to make ends meet. Yet I never doubted for a moment. The children were my number one priority.”
Saida: “Soon the youngest started calling me ‘mama’. Shortly afterwards the oldest asked, “Can I call you Mama too?” That was so sweet. Of course you could. We really started to be one family.”
Pay off debts
The family got used to the new situation and received help from all sides. In the meantime, the debts continued to mount. “I took care of five children on my own and couldn’t work as much as I used to. To pay off my debts, I had to sell my house. Suddenly we were on the street.” Saïda and her children lived with her sister for several months and often went ‘camping’ with relatives. “I really tried to make it an outing for the kids. I also never showed that I was emotional or angry. I tried to trust that it would be okay.”
Help from all sides
Six months later, in 2018, the family was assigned a home through social work. “We were very happy with that, but to be honest, we had nothing else.” Family, friends and foundations came to the rescue to give the family a nice place. In 2020, Saïda came into contact with Kinderhulp, a foundation that is committed to children in the Netherlands who grow up in poverty. They paid for her son’s football training and gave the children a Summer Fun Package. “It really contained everything: cinema tickets, school supplies, games, money for a day out… The kids loved it! They are still talking about it.”
Saida: “When I talk about Kinderhulp, I get goosebumps. The people who work there do everything with so much love for the children. And they really empathize with you, our contact is very personal.”
Children first
Saïda is now no longer in debt restructuring, but the family is still tight. Especially now that Saïda is unable to work due to health problems. Yet she remains positive. “I always try to think in possibilities. If something is not possible, we will look for another solution. Whatever life brings us, the most important thing is that my children are happy and healthy. All five.”
Fun with the Summer Fun Package
Kinderhulp is available for all children in the Netherlands who grow up in poverty. She does this by helping with something big, or something small. Every year Kinderhulp hands out Summer Fun Packages, full of fun and summer adventures. From a beach ball and comic book to a carefree day out and cinema tickets. Things that seem very ordinary, but really make a difference for these families. Want to know what you can do? Look here for more information.