Bernard van Leer Foundation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bernard van Leer Foundation[1] is a private grantmaking foundation that funds and shares knowledge internationally about work in early childhood development and child rights. It was established in 1949 and is based in the Netherlands.

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"[2].

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".[3] 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.[4]

The foundation's income is channelled through the Van Leer Group Foundation[5], which also funds the Jerusalem Film Centre[6] and the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute[7]. 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.[8]

The Bernard van Leer Foundation's mission is "to improve opportunities for children up to age 8 who are growing up in socially and economically difficult circumstances". Currently the foundation funds work in three issue areas: "Strengthening the care environment"[9], "Successful transitions: The continuum from home to school"[10], and "Respect for diversity and social inclusion".[11] The foundation currently supports about 140 major projects which are implemented through local partners, focused on 21 countries which include both developing and industrialised countries and represent a geographical range that encompasses Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.[12]

The foundation publishes a biannual journal entitled Early Childhood Matters, also published in Spanish as Espacio para la Infancia, along with occasional working papers and books, all of which are made available free of charge.[13]

The Bernard van Leer Foundation disburses in grants a figure in the region of 20 million euros annually.[14] 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.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Early childhood development and child rights grantmaking and publications (Home page)
  2. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Bernard van Leer biography
  3. ^ http://www.bernardvanleer.org/publication_store/publication_store_publications/a_legacy_for_humankind/file
  4. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - History and income
  5. ^ Van Leer Group Foundation - Home
  6. ^ The Jerusalem Cinematheuqe | סינמטק ירושלים
  7. ^ The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
  8. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - History and income
  9. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Strengthening the care environment
  10. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Transitions
  11. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Diversity
  12. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Browse by location
  13. ^ Bernard van Leer Foundation - Publications - Our latest publications about early childhood development and child rights
  14. ^ http://www.bernardvanleer.org/publication_store/publication_store_publications/annual_report_2006/file
  15. ^ Strong foundations: early childhood care and education;EFA global monitoring report, 2007; 2006

[edit] External links