EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Rotterdam: Media and printing workshop for children

Rotterdam: Media and printing workshop for children

Introduction

There has been a desire for some years to create a press office ran by and for children in Rotterdam Noord. A children's press office that will tackle children's educational disadvantages in an innovative way, in order to bring about effective language development at the youngest possible age. It has now become possible, partly through the URBAN II subsidy, to organise language printing activities, as well as journalistic activities, in these neighbourhoods.

Problem

The intention of the activities in the workshop is that the children from Rotterdam Noord can develop and increase their language skills. The project must also increase children's involvement in their own neighbourhood. It is also the intention of the project to develop the children's self-awareness and independence.

Description

The idea that both a Children's Press Office and a Language Printing Workshop can be coupled together through the fact that both forms work with children and language is unique in Rotterdam and the Netherlands. Children from 6 to 12 years of age can follow courses in the workshop. They can make their own newspaper, book, internet page, radio or television programme. In this way, the children can improve their Dutch communication in a playful way, without any pressure to achieve.

Approach

The spearheads within the Rotterdam programme document are:

Integrated approach of youth problems (family, education, leisure time, work).
Investments in culture and economy; the Cultural world district.
Complete improvement of the quality of the outdoors area in the territory.
Economisal-recreative (re-)development of the Rotte and its surroundings.
Participation of inhabitants and entrepreneurs with the driving Thea terras.

Results

The activities in the media and printing workshop will make a contribution to the language development of the child. The children also learn how to use computers and media equipment.

EU involvement

URBAN II is an initiative of the European Commission. The aim is to support innovative projects in the field of urban regeneration in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The URBAN II projects will set an example for national urban policy. In the Netherlands, areas in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Heerlen have been allocated for the period 2000-2006. In Rotterdam URBAN II attention is directed at three neighbourhoods in 'Noord aan de Rotte', with a total of almost 30,000 inhabitants.

Financing

European subsidy: € 316.193
Total cost: € 632.386

Contact info

The local programme management, tel. +31 10 4667667

Project start date

01/10/2002

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Skills improvement