Karel's story

Helping coach children: wonderful work! Four years ago, the Woerden branch of the national Coach4you was set up. This organization helps students with the transition from primary to secondary education. It is not so much tutoring or homework guidance, but mainly aimed at the well-being of the coach children. They ensure that the children, called coach children, start their secondary school confidently and with a good feeling. Karel got involved with Coach4you early on. In fact: he became the very first voluntary coach of the Woerdense department! “After my retirement, I was looking for a sensible leisure activity and happened to come across a notice in the Woerdense Courant of Coach4you. I responded and thus became the first Woerdense coach. Coach4you has now grown considerably in Woerden. We have about fifteen coach children and about the same number of coaches. The coach children are registered with Coach4you for various reasons. For example, I have had coach children who just came to live in the Netherlands from countries such as Somalia or Syria. And some have behavioral problems. We help them successfully complete the first year: surely one of the most formative years in a child's development.” I sometimes run into former coach children and they say hello very cheerfully! “As a coach, I supervise one coach child during the entire school year. Sometimes a bit longer, sometimes a lot shorter. It just depends on what the child needs. I help them get used to secondary school during that time. There is a lot that comes to a child of eleven or twelve years: new subjects, changing teachers, changing classrooms. That can lead to anxiety. And take the social aspect as well. How does the child deal with bullying? What can the child do about it if it does not connect with other children? I visit my coach child for an hour every week and then we discuss what is going on in all those different areas. In this way you really build a bond with the child. In that sense, as a coach, you are also a kind of confidant. Which is certainly nice. I sometimes run into former coach children and they say hello very cheerfully!” Coach4you can use new coaches to help even more children. Would you like to guide children through the transition from primary to secondary school? Sign up by sending an email to coach4you@gildewoerden.nl (Gerard Middelkoop). Or read more information about the organization on the national website: www.coach4you.org. Share these stories and inspire others to help too! Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Whatsapp Forward

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