Frequently Asked Questions

Sofie Foets was introduced to the concept of IMC Weekendschool during a conference in the European Parliament, where Heleen Terwijn gave a speech on ‘best practices in Europe as regards informal education for disadvantaged youngsters’. Being a child of entrepreneurs, an idealist and a lover of Brussels, Sofie decided in 2012 to launch the Brussels equivalent of IMC Weekendschool: ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir.  TADA was launched in Sint-Joost-ten-Node since this is municipality was the poorest, most densely populated and smallest municipality of Brussels (with large ratios of early school dropout and youth unemployment).

Each year in September, TADA presents its activity to all the pupils of all the fifth year classes of the participating schools. The pupils decide themselves, in dialogue with their parents, whether or not they would like to participate in the TADA program.

Since 2014-2015, the demand for a place at TADA has become much greater than the offer. In order to ensure that full advantage is taken of limited places, TADA conducts a survey, before selecting the children by lottery, during the invitation rounds in the schools in order to assess:

• The children’s desire to participate in TADA
• The children’s access to other empowering, extracurricular activities (such as music or coding lessons)
• The general, socioeconomic familial background of the children
• The level of education and employment of the parents or guardians.

The children’s school results are not taken into account.

In order to get to know its pupils (and future pupils) better, TADA regularly organizes surveys. The class coordinators visit the children and their parents yearly at home. For more information you can contact us at info@toekomstatelierdelavenir.com.

Since its launch, TADA has counted on the enthusiastic collaboration of a very diverse group of guest lecturers: younger and older, of Belgian or other origin, with just a little or lots of experience, well known media personalities or unknown people. Some of the well-known public personalities that participated with a lot of enthusiasm are Martine Tanghe and Françoise Wallemacq (journalism), Emir Kir, Pascal Smet, Hilde Crevits and Guy Verhofstadt (politics), and Adil El Arbi (cinema).

The goal is to show the TADA kids what goes on in the world, to widen their critical mindset and to help them discover their own talents and interests by means of practical workshops. Each profession requires different skills, which are taught implicitly. Each class is a combination of knowledge and life skills.

For example: during the series of classes on law, they meet lawyers, judges, public prosecutors, clerks of court, prison guards and policemen and -women. In these classes they get to know Belgian society and its judicial system and they also learn to present to an audience, to argue, and to think and act in a nuanced way.

• TADA is about ‘all-round character education’, with attention to professional perspectives. This differentiates TADA from other organizations that complement traditional education (like homework or language classes) or that stimulate emancipation and integration by means of social-cultural, artistic or sports activities.
• TADA focuses on prevention, by focusing on working with young children. The main TADA target group is children from underprivileged neighborhoods, between the ages of 10 and 14; pupils from the fifth year of primary school through the first year of secondary school. Many organizations focus on supporting vulnerable children of secondary school or young adults. TADA focuses on prevention, whereas many others focus on resolution; by arming its pupils at a very young age against demotivation and loss of perspectives, TADA prevents one of the causes of genuine problems such as learning fatigue, early school dropout, and extreme radicalization or unemployment, in the long term.
• TADA offers intensive, weekly coaching support of three school years and a long term follow-up via an alumni trajectory. This distinguishes TADA from other organizations since most of them work less intensively and only during a short period of time.
• TADA brings people together that would not meet in real life, under ordinary circumstances. TADA allows for a positive, intergenerational and intercultural dialogue in Brussels between diverse worlds, that normally wouldn’t meet: the world of the societally vulnerable child, the world of the professional, the world of school and the world of business…
  TADA tears down walls between these worlds and encourages a mutually positive learning process. The intergenerational and intercultural dialogue it inspires, work to encourage integration and cohesion.

Reciprocity

Two worlds meet at TADA: the world of adults, who have accomplished their professional dreams, and the world of children, who at first glance have little chance of doing likewise. The two groups work together, get to know each other, learn from one another. Eyes open, minds open, for both the children and adults participating in TADA.

Independency & neutrality

TADA is neutral toward all fields. The initiative is also independent, from its financial partners as well as from the public sector. TADA’s strategy is defined by its director and board.

Diversity

TADA is dedicated to embracing diversity and fighting discrimination on all levels. For these reasons TADA attaches great importance to things such as mutual respect, dignity for everyone, tolerance and acceptance of others without prejudices on the basis of whatever grounds.

See also the TADA child protection policy.

ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir is a 100% bilingual vzw/asbl with its registered office at Troonplein 1, 1000 Brussel. TADA’s company number is 0847.950.640. TADA is VAT exempt. You’ll find the statutes of TADA here.

• Original Statutes in Dutch or French.

• The logo ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir is a visual trademark registered in the Benelux Trademarks Register since April 21, 2014 (see the document here).
• Toekomst Atelier is a verbal trademark registered in the Benelux Trademarks Register since April 18, 2018 (see the document here).
• Atelier de l’Avenir is a verbal trademark registered in the Register of European Union trademarks since June 22, 2018 (see the document here).
• TADA is a verbal trademark registered in the Register of European Union trademarks since June 27, 2018  (see the document here).

TADA’s fiscal year starts on September 1 and ends on August 31. TADA’s annual account is audited by Ernst & Young Belgium.

Here you can consult the annual accounts for 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.

Donations of 40 euros or more made to this account managed by the King Baudoin Foundation give rise to a tax reduction of 45% on the amount actually paid. You can also chose to give multiple small donations during a certain period in time (for example 5 euros every month). If the total amount in one year is 40 euros or more you’ll receive a tax certificate for this amount, deliverd by the King Baudoin Foundation.

If you don’t want a tax certificate you transfer your donation to the TADA bank account BE05 0017 4290 3575. We would like to receive your name, postal and email address to keep you informed with our annual reports and newsletters.

Please take note that TADA can’t offer you a tax certificate for donations made with PayPal.

Of course you can also encourage others to make a donation! Please find more information on this webpage.

For more information on these cooperation possibilities you can contact Sofie Foets, Founder and Managing Director of TADA (sofie@toekomstatelierdelavenir.com / 02-781.00.32)

Note that for the time being, TADA works exclusively in collaboration with these primary schools:  Sint-Joost-aan-Zee, Ten Nude, De Buurt, Klavertje Vier, de Mozaïek, Mariaschool, Le Petit Saint Louis, La Sagesse, Henri Frick, La Nouvelle Ecole, Joseph Declef, Dames de Marie, Tournesol, Arc-en-Ciel, Institut Notre-Dame, Saint-François-Xavier, P8M5 Les Tourterelles, P17 Pierre Lairin, Clair-Soleil & Le Tilleul. Vrije Basisschool Imelda, Windekind, De Windroos, De Klimpaal, Vier Winden Basisschool, Paloke, De Knipoog, Sint-Karel, Sint-Martinus, De Toverfluit, Sint-Albert, Regenboog.

If you have a legitimate reason for your child not to be present, we ask you to notify the class coordinator as soon as possible in order to explain the situation. Children who are regularly absent without a good reason, may be asked to leave the program.

By inviting on average four guest lecturers for each class, the children can work in small groups. This way we can increase the level of intensity of the courses; this also means that pedagogical expertise is not a necessity for guest lecturers. This intensive and interactive way of working allows for close contact between the guest lecturers and the children, and thus enhances attention span.

Discover the curriculum 23-24.

We are always open to spontaneous apllications!  For more information, check out our "jobpage" on this website, or do please contact us at job@toekomstatelierdelavenir.com.