Youth Education Fund grant to continue in 2027

The municipality of Heerlen has been partnering with the Youth Education Fund (JEF) since 2017. This fund helps children growing up in poverty. Their talent does not determine how far they go; their home situation does.
A three-year pilot program will conclude at the end of 2026. This pilot was successful, which is why the municipality wants to continue the partnership. In the future, more schools will be included.

A child's legs in slippers

Arlette Vrusch : "Poverty should never determine how far a child can go. Yet we see that financial worries lead to disadvantages. The Youth Education Fund gives schools the flexibility to help children directly. Schools are often the first to recognize what a child needs. It works. That is why Heerlen is continuing to invest in this."

How does poverty affect children?

In Heerlen, thousands of children grow up in poverty. They start out at a disadvantage from an early age. It is difficult to make up for this disadvantage later on.
Research on equal opportunity (2025) shows that poverty causes problems:

  • Mental health issues
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Lower academic performance

These problems are on the rise. The gap between these children and those from families without financial worries is widening. During the 2025–2026 school year, the JEF assisted students more than 10,000 times.

The collaboration?

Participating elementary schools receive a fixed budget each year. They can allocate this budget as they see fit. They can use it to support groups or individual students in various areas.

Heerlen started with 11 elementary schools. In 2023, three more schools were added. Schools use the funds for purposes such as:

  • Paying for school trips
  • Helping individual students when their parents don't have enough money

Thanks to the positive results, more schools will be added in August 2026.

The Youth Education Fund

The fund is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Its goal: to ensure that all children have the best possible opportunities for development. This benefits society as a whole. They work in partnership with elementary schools based on a foundation of trust.

Nationwide, the JEF collaborates with more than 1,000 elementary schools and 90 municipalities.