This year’s theme: Equity of Opportunities for all Youths
Today, the Oranje Fonds is launching its search for those exceptional projects that will be contending for an Appeltje van Oranje award 2022. This year’s theme is Equity of Opportunities for all Youths. Inequality of opportunity is an urgent societal problem that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. Projects that successfully target this issue deserve support and recognition and the Oranje Fonds wishes to shine a spotlight on them this year through the Appeltjes van Oranje awards. Organizations have until September 30 to apply at oranjefonds.nl/appeltjes for a chance to be awarded an “Appeltje.” Three initiatives will be handed the award by King Willem-Alexander in May 2022.
Equity of opportunities for all youths is, sadly, not a given. In fact, various studies have shown inequality of opportunities among different groups of young people to be on the rise and the COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated and further manifested the issue. Young people are particularly vulnerable to the loss of education, apprenticeships, (permanent) work, income, structure and social contacts. They experience more stress at home, for instance, from increased domestic violence, isolation and loss of perspectives. Furthermore, new groups of vulnerable youths are being added.
An Invisible Wall
According to a 2019 report by the Social and Cultural Planning Office of the Netherlands on opportunities and barriers among young people, there is a risk of an “invisible wall” forming between youths with and without access to resources. Some are able to take advantage of opportunities while others face barriers in doing so. Young people with sufficient economic resources and social capital, for instance, have a chance of “cashing in” on opportunities. Social capital plays an increasingly important role in this regard—People with the right network get further in life. Issues like education and origin, such as where you were born, who your parents are, where they come from and what they do, all come into play, as do (unconscious) prejudices, exclusion and discrimination.
Age Peers
Fortunately, many organizations are committed to promoting equity of opportunity for all youths and, as a way of showing them some well-deserved recognition, the Oranje Fonds is looking for those exceptional projects that engage youths to help their age peers to get ahead, such as buddy projects connecting young people, initiatives that allow young refugees to meet their peers or projects supporting LGBTIQ+ youth with the help of young volunteers. You can now alert an organization, or directly nominate one that you see as a contender at oranjefonds.nl/appeltjes.
The Awards
The Appeltjes van Oranje are a yearly award recognizing and rewarding three initiatives that successfully connect different groups or that contribute to people being able to participate in society again. All Appeltje van Oranje winners receive a bronze statuette made by Princess Beatrix and a cash prize of 25,000 euros. As a rule, Queen Máxima hands out the awards, while every five years the awards are handed out by King Willem-Alexander. This year’s event will be the 20th presentation of the Appeltjes van Oranje awards.
Oranje Fonds
The Oranje Fonds is committed to a society where no one stands alone and everyone can participate. To this end, it strengthens and supports organizations, volunteers and donors who contribute to a more cohesive society. The Fund is supported by the Nationale Postcode Loterij, the Dutch Lottery, friends and various other partners. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are the Orange Fund’s patrons.
