Bernard van Leer Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Bernard van Leer Foundation funds and shares knowledge about work in early childhood development. The foundation was established in 1949 and is based in the Netherlands
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The mission of the Bernard van Leer Foundation is to improve opportunities for children up to age 8 who are growing up in socially and economically difficult circumstances. Its sees this both as a valuable end in itself and as a long-term means to promoting more cohesive, considerate and creative societies with equal opportunities and rights for all.
Bernard van Leer Foundation grantmaking works primarily through supporting programmes implemented by local partners in selected countries and publishing free publications. Its partners include public, private and community-based organisations. Working through partnerships is intended to build local capacity, promote innovation and flexibility, and help to ensure that the work we fund is culturally and contextually appropriate.
Since 2009 the foundation pursues three strategic goals:
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on selected countries: Brazil, India, Israel, The Netherlands, Peru, Tanzania, Turkey and Uganda and has a regional approach within the European Union.
Until 2012, the foundation will also be working in the Caribbean, Mexico and South Africa on the issue areas defined by its previous strategic plan: Strengthening the care environment, Successful transitions from home to school, and Social inclusion and respect for diversity.
The foundation's income is derived from the bequest of Bernard van Leer, a Dutch industrialist and philanthropist
who lived from 1883 to 1958, and made his fortune from the packaging company he founded in 1919, Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer. An amateur circus-master, Bernard van Leer has been described by a biographer as an "indefatigable businessman, who subordinated everything and everyone to his business interests; a driven individualist, a quick thinker, restive and irritating".
After Bernard van Leer's death in 1958, the foundation was given a clearer organisation and focus by his son Oscar van Leer, described as "intelligent, quick-witted and a gifted pianist". From 1964 the Bernard van Leer Foundation focused on young children, primary education and youth, and since 1980 has concentrated exclusively on disadvantaged young children. It funded its first international project, in Jamaica, in 1966.
The foundation's income is channelled through the Van Leer Group Foundation, which also funds the Jerusalem Film Centre and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
. The members of the Van Leer Group Foundation's governing council also form the board of trustees of the Bernard van Leer Foundation. In the late 1990s, the Van Leer Group Foundation sold Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer, which it had fully owned, and now derives its income from a venture capital company and a global portfolio of equities, securities and property.
Its international grantmaking activities over several decades are credited with having helped to raise early childhood
on the political agenda, notably through contributions to the development of the early childhood care and education sector in Jamaica and the Preschool Education Project in Kenya.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
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The mission of the Bernard van Leer Foundation is to improve opportunities for children up to age 8 who are growing up in socially and economically difficult circumstances. Its sees this both as a valuable end in itself and as a long-term means to promoting more cohesive, considerate and creative societies with equal opportunities and rights for all.
Bernard van Leer Foundation grantmaking works primarily through supporting programmes implemented by local partners in selected countries and publishing free publications. Its partners include public, private and community-based organisations. Working through partnerships is intended to build local capacity, promote innovation and flexibility, and help to ensure that the work we fund is culturally and contextually appropriate.
Since 2009 the foundation pursues three strategic goals:
- Taking quality early learning to scale
- Reducing violence in young children's lives
- Improving young children's physical environments
The foundation focuses its grantmaking on selected countries: Brazil, India, Israel, The Netherlands, Peru, Tanzania, Turkey and Uganda and has a regional approach within the European Union.
Until 2012, the foundation will also be working in the Caribbean, Mexico and South Africa on the issue areas defined by its previous strategic plan: Strengthening the care environment, Successful transitions from home to school, and Social inclusion and respect for diversity.
The foundation's income is derived from the bequest of Bernard van Leer, a Dutch industrialist and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
who lived from 1883 to 1958, and made his fortune from the packaging company he founded in 1919, Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer. An amateur circus-master, Bernard van Leer has been described by a biographer as an "indefatigable businessman, who subordinated everything and everyone to his business interests; a driven individualist, a quick thinker, restive and irritating".
After Bernard van Leer's death in 1958, the foundation was given a clearer organisation and focus by his son Oscar van Leer, described as "intelligent, quick-witted and a gifted pianist". From 1964 the Bernard van Leer Foundation focused on young children, primary education and youth, and since 1980 has concentrated exclusively on disadvantaged young children. It funded its first international project, in Jamaica, in 1966.
The foundation's income is channelled through the Van Leer Group Foundation, which also funds the Jerusalem Film Centre and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute is an academic institute in Jerusalem established in 1959 by the Van Leer family of the Netherlands.The Van Leer Institute is a center for the interdisciplinary study and discussion of issues related to philosophy, society, culture and education...
. The members of the Van Leer Group Foundation's governing council also form the board of trustees of the Bernard van Leer Foundation. In the late 1990s, the Van Leer Group Foundation sold Royal Packaging Industries Van Leer, which it had fully owned, and now derives its income from a venture capital company and a global portfolio of equities, securities and property.
Its international grantmaking activities over several decades are credited with having helped to raise early childhood
Early childhood
For the video game rating with a similar age group see ESRBEarly childhood is a stage in human development. It generally includes toddlerhood and some time afterwards. Play age is an unspecific designation approximately within the scope of early childhood.-Education:Infants and toddlers experience...
on the political agenda, notably through contributions to the development of the early childhood care and education sector in Jamaica and the Preschool Education Project in Kenya.