Hello my name is Marieke Scheper, as a small child, I already believed in miracles. I was only six years old when I dreamed of opening an orphanage. A place where children feel at home, where they feel safe and get all the attention and love they need. Knowing that there were so many children worldwide who do not. Thirteen years of experience as a teaching assistant and drama teacher for various organizations only encouraged my dream.

I haven’t opened an orphanage, but something that is much like it. Klein is Groot is a childcare where children, parents, and carers feel at home. It is a warm place of security and love where everyone can be themselves and where there is plenty of room for creativity, new ideas, development, fun, magic and fantasy. Here anyone can be a child. Every day we experience a great adventure with new scents, colors, sensations and discoveries. Everything we experience with the same intensity and hunger for more.

This is where we – children and teaching staff – become better and grow. This drives me! A childcare where children, parents, and carers leave with a happy and warm feeling in their heart. I enjoy seeing how everyone shines here. When I experience this, I know I’ve done my job. That encourages me to continue dreaming. I am realistic. I believe in miracles and miracles come true.

My name is Cherida van Dieijen, Location responsible Hendrik van Deventerstraat, I was ten years old when my brother was taken to a children day-care centre for the first time, I still remember it very well. When my mother and I would bring my brother, I always found it a very special place. All the children were cheerfully playing and the childcare workers participated with great pleasure and joy. This was the moment when I thought: “This is what I want to do.”

Gradually I discovered what is important to me in this work area.
As a childcare worker I want to offer the children a safe and familiar environment. I would like to make sure that the children feel that they are important and that they have the freedom to discover the world.

With 12 years of experience in childcare, I also know that there are not so many daycare centres in which I can realize my criteria. That is one of the main reasons why it is so nice that, after a special meeting with Marieke, I now work at “Klein is Groot”; a very special place to work.

My name is Ninna van Oosterom, Location responsible Laan Copes van Cattenburch, I really enjoy looking after children, it’s something I do with pleasure as well as dedication. I started as a speech therapist (something I did for 10 years) and mostly worked with children that have linguistic development disorders.

I am grateful for that voice inside of me that told me that doing what I enjoyed doing most would be the right decision. Even if that means making some major changes. Therefore ,in 2014, I switched to childcare, mostly out of the desire to contribute to creating a healthy environment for early development of children. I want to BE there for children. By listening, by looking, and by offering support.

I love to work with the Klein is Groot team, because it’s a team that have chosen this profession with a lot of conviction, just like me, and we have the same vision!