THE JAN VERTONGHEN FOUNDATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH A-GROUP AND LUKIART, DISTRIBUTES CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO PATIENTS OF THE QUEEN MATHILDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
On Tuesday 20 December, we visited the Queen Mathilde Mother and Child Care Centre at the UZA with gifts.
The Jan Vertonghen Foundation has entered into a great partnership with Special Olympics Belgium, which promotes the same values as we do. Values such as respect, solidarity and the opportunity for each child to shine in their own way!
Years ago I visited the Amsterdam hospital VUmc. They built an amazing playground for patients on the two top floors, called VUmc Kinderstad. I just couldn’t stop thinking about what I saw there: all these gravely ill children who went back to being carefree children amidst the toys, the cuddly toys and the games. Right there and then I decided I would set up something similar one day.
I now decided to launch the Jan Vertonghen Foundation around the time of my 100th international match, my 100th game for the Red Devils, for Belgium.
On Tuesday 20 December, we visited the Queen Mathilde Mother and Child Care Centre at the UZA with gifts. One of the gifts was an art box that was specially designed by us for sick children who are not allowed to leave their rooms – the children in the UZA are the first to try it out.
We wanted to give the hospitalised children a fun day, especially during the Christmas season. That’s why we wanted to give gifts to all the children in hospital, together with A-Group and LuKiArt, The children will receive a ball and a teddy bear, donated by A-Group. We also had the opportunity to play a small football match on our playground. 😃Afterwards, Jan Vertonghen, accompanied by some young players from the A-Group, visited the children who are not allowed to leave their rooms. They received a special art box from Jan.
This box was designed by the Foundation in collaboration with LuKiArt. By 2023, 100 of these art boxes will have been donated by the Foundation to various hospitals in Belgium. The UZA was the first hospital to receive these boxes. The idea is that this box allows children to express themselves creatively.
It was a fantastic day and it was a pleasure to be able to distribute Christmas presents to all the sick children.
Jan Vertonghen has been authorised to offer our specially designed art boxes to children who are not allowed to leave their rooms so that they too can be creative.
Nothing but happy faces! 🥰
Thanks to A-Group and our partner LuKiArt for making this day possible. ❤️
Every year thousands of young children have to go to hospital: far away from home, school & friends and often scared about everything that is going on around them. During their admission to the hospital a lot of attention is paid to the medical diagnosis and care. But we should not forget about the child behind the ‘disease’.
What is more beautiful than letting all these children get away from it all for just a moment, making them forget that they are sick and showing that they belong. Just like that, by letting them play and encouraging them to always bring out the best in themselves. Despite their disease or long stay in hospital children still have a lot of creativity inside. So let’s focus on their personal expression and increase their joy of life. That’s what we are committed to!
In cooperation with hospitals across Belgium we will launch appeals to all these children to show the best of themselves by making pieces of art, focusing on a specific theme each time. Throughout the year we will give out awards for their dedication. Bringing the best out in every child is our goal, because every child is special!
In addition, we want to encourage hospitals to stimulate the creativity in children and to get children to move. We will be glad to support any initiatives hospitals may take in this respect.
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