The 12 activities are:

  • Activity 1 – Open your ‘heart’ to one another
  • Activity 2 – Building a bond
  • Activity 3 – Everyone responds differently
  • Activity 4 – What might be behind it?
  • Activity 5 – Positive gossip
  • Activity 6 – Know your strengths
  • Activity 7 – Draw a Heart House together
  • Activity 8 – How well do you know each other? (crossing the line)
  • Activity 9 – Evi’s story
  • Activity 10 – Heppie in the Classroom chat card
  • Activity 11 – An unforgettable action
  • Activity 12 – What is The Forgotten Child Foundation?

The Forgotten Child Foundation is clear about the reason for the lesson package: “Children spend a great deal of time at school. Feeling welcome and seen there is therefore very important to them—especially for children who experience little social support in their daily lives. How children feel in the classroom can have an enormous impact on their lives. A supportive classroom helps children cope with difficult situations and helps them feel good. And a supportive teacher is worth their weight in gold in the lives of children who experience a great deal of stress at home. Children are always developing, but at a school where they feel safe and seen, they develop better. And this has a positive effect not only on their mental well-being, but also on their academic performance!”

During the national campaign ‘Open your HEART for forgotten children in social isolation’, from 29 January through 12 February), The Forgotten Child Foundation also took action to encourage municipalities, schools and youth care organizations to break the isolation. The Forgotten Child Foundation also conducted research into the impact of social isolation. It showed that 50% of children are bullied or excluded. For example, because they wear different clothes or because other children and adults do not understand them.

The story is given a face in Merel’s story. In this video, she explains that as a child she did not always feel seen at school. She shares her story and also offers practical tips.

The Heppie in the Classroom lesson package can be downloaded here.