TADA's kids & their families/schools

Going to school every Saturday? This might seem boring, but the TADA kids (10-14 years old) disagree!

TADA teens commit themselves voluntarily to following weekend school classes every Saturday for a period of three school years. They do this very enthusiastically, curious to discover society and the professional world ‘of the grown-ups’.

After these first 3 years, the teens get an entrance ticket to a follow-up trajectory for alumni. Alumni are united in ‘TADA for Life’: a network allowing the alumni to get together on a sporadic basis or to give back to TADA.

The TADA kids come from 50 different elementary schools in Brussels, close to our weekend schools in Sint-Joost-ten-Node, Anderlecht, Molenbeek and Schaerbeek.

 

The demand for participation exceeds the number of available places.

In order to ensure that full advantage is taken of limited places, TADA conducts a survey during its invitation rounds in the schools.

With this, TADA assesses:

  • The children’s desire to participate in TADA
  • The children’s access to other empowering, extracurricular activities (like music lessons)
  • The general, socioeconomic familial background of the children

Between the very suitable and motivated participants, TADA awards the places with quota by gender and school. Teens living in the most challenging circumstances, normally get the advantage. There is a waiting list for children who do not receive a spot immediately. When a child unexpectedly leaves the program, that place comes free. 

TADA places a great emphasis on parental involvement. It is essential that the family of a TADA teenager is positive about TADA, to give the child the best chances of development and to succeed in our mission. 

How do we involve the families of the teens in our way of working?

  • In the beginning of the school year we organize an information evening for the parents.
  • We invite families during the school year to show moments and the graduation ceremony.
  • Our coordinators visit the families of all teenagers at home.
  • The TADA team is reachable by phone for questions or remarks and is approachable after and before the TADA class.

 

  • TADA is fun and we learn a lot! Every month, we discover a new job. I now know what a chemist does, before I didn’t even know that job existed. At TADA, we learn to ask questions, to work together, to be curious, to dare, to express our opinion, not to be shy anymore, to be more disciplined, etc. All those things you don’t learn at school.


    Soulaimane, previous TADA student

  • I received good grades at school after the journalism class. The advice given to read fast and summarize a text quickly has been really effective to help me find the important information. (What, Who, When, Why, Where and How).


    Kamilia, previous student of TADA

  • I sincerely appreciate your initiative and the impact your project has on my daughter, Teresa. Very often, immigration creates obstacles for immigrants and their children, taking away the support they need to realize their dreams, to fulfil their true potential and to contribute to society. Sofie, you have identified this need and helped bridge it by helping our kids discover their enormous potential. You have given them back the right to dream big, and given them the possibility to reach for these dreams; for this I will always be grateful. You, and the whole ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir team will always stay in our minds. Keep on going with your good work.


    Teresa’s mother

  • Caroline has grown a lot since she’s taken part in TADA. She’s more enthusiastic, wants to learn more and is more focused at school.


    Caroline’s mother

  • TADA really does him good: we see a big difference in his general knowledge. At home, he teaches us things that he’s been learning during his Saturdays at TADA.


    Yigit’s mother

  • I find ToekomstATELIERdelAvenir very important for Zehna. My parents never allowed me to do what I wanted to, and I want to give this opportunity to my child. I want my children to be aware of what they like, to discover the possibilities, to become what they want and to receive answers to the questions to which I don’t know the answer.


    Zehna’s mother

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