50 primary schools receive €5,000 to green their schoolyards

All 160 participating schools have now been informed of the outcome. IVN and Jantje Beton will work with the group of 50 ‘winners’ to turn their wonderful ideas – from a mud kitchen to a shaded area or the construction of play mounds – into reality. An overview of the winning schools can be found here.

Not gaming, but enjoying the outdoors

The 160 submissions demonstrate all the more clearly that many schoolyards do not provide the challenge and space needed for children to enjoy playing in nature. Meanwhile, school representatives are increasingly seeing children’s motor skills deteriorate. They also believe that social interaction and the use of imagination are declining as a result of increased screen use during free time outside school hours. One of the winning schools summed up its vision concisely and powerfully: ‘Not gaming, but enjoying the outdoors’.

Village schools also dream of a green, attractive schoolyard

Schools in the major cities that participated indicate that a stimulating, public schoolyard for all children – and specifically for children growing up in poverty – is incredibly important. Many children have little or no outdoor space at home, and often lack the money for sports or other hobbies. The schoolyard is therefore the ideal place to play and exercise together.
The village schools that wanted to be considered for the grant are also eager for an attractive schoolyard, because there are often no play areas or sports facilities at all. In many villages, poverty, in addition to the distance to sports clubs, unfortunately also frequently prevents children from participating in sports or hobbies. The schoolyard is therefore often the only place where they can play and exercise with other children.

Initiators Jantje Beton and IVN

Jantje Beton and IVN are working towards an approach to structurally support schools in the design and use of their schoolyards for play, exercise and learning. The large number of responses from schools demonstrates the need and urgency for this. They are working with municipalities, provinces and the national government to provide more schools with financial and practical support, enabling them to make their future schoolyards as green and playful as possible.