Goal: Increase knowledge, skills, and competencies in entrepreneurship and vitality among 600 students in Northeast Friesland
“it takes a child to raise a village”
The Northeast Friesland region faces societal, political, and economic challenges. Persistent gaps in educational attainment and income mean the region lags socially and economically behind other parts of the province and the Netherlands. Cultural factors, such as low expectations among parents and teachers, further hinder educational advancement and reduce diversity in career choices.
Early lessons, young entrepreneurship
A lack of (pro-)active entrepreneurship, characterized by risk-averse behavior, restricts investment and innovation. This hesitation results in low employment, limited productivity, and stagnated economic dynamism, with negative consequences for the region’s broader well-being.
Economic disadvantage also impacts residents’ health and well-being. Increased rates of overweight, chronic illness, and reduced quality of life undermine individual well-being, weaken social cohesion, and lower trust in regional development.
A model region for the vitality of tomorrow’s generation
This project supports an entrepreneurial and vital region by investing in the next generation. Under the motto “it takes a child to raise a village,” the focus is on enhancing children’s knowledge and skills in entrepreneurship and vitality. By providing the right tools at a young age, a sustainable foundation is laid for both individual growth and broader socioeconomic progress.
The project also centers on healthy nutrition as key to vitality. Choosing local, organic, and nature-inclusive food not only boosts children’s vitality and cognitive performance but also stimulates entrepreneurship, fueling innovation, employment, and economic growth in the region.
This approach builds a foundation for collective progress. The wider community benefits from improved quality of life, with a strong sense of community and social cohesion at the base. Enhanced educational and health outcomes strengthen the regional economy, and growing entrepreneurship generates more jobs and innovation.
By equipping youth with knowledge and skills in healthy eating and entrepreneurship, multiple positive effects are achieved: better health with less overweight and chronic disease, higher ambition through broader career awareness, and increased educational attainment through a more motivating curriculum. This strategy further promotes economic growth through entrepreneurship and innovation, creates new partnerships between education and business, and deepens knowledge about the importance of healthy food and sustainable food production.
Dit deed Enablemi’s role
In partnership with ROOBOL, a feasibility study was first set up, forming the foundation for the funding application. The consortium was then assembled in consultation, a collaborative union of five specialized institutions, bringing together expertise in primary education, green secondary and higher education, research, regional knowledge sharing, and innovation, aligning key stakeholders around a shared vision.
Stichting ROOBOL (lead partner) combines high-quality primary education with after-school care to foster a healthy and entrepreneurial school day. Aeres Buitenpost provides practice-oriented expertise in healthy nutrition and agrarian entrepreneurship in secondary and higher education, and tests program conditions. NHL Stenden contributes international research experience and innovative didactic insights, validates impact using design-based methodology, and involves PABO students in training future teachers. Noordoost Fryslân acts as a regional knowledge and network hub, sharing insights, supporting evaluation, and analyzing data. Innovatiepact Fryslân strengthens the regional climate for innovation and entrepreneurship by connecting stakeholders and developing a scaling-up plan.
This integrated approach led to the development of the main project and a successful grant application, establishing a solid foundation for sustainable progress toward a healthy and entrepreneurial region.
All-in-one educational program: Vitality, entrepreneurship, and healthy food
Various initiatives focus on healthy eating at educational institutions. Sûn-Lekker-Iten@School is unique in linking vitality and entrepreneurship with the theme of healthy food. The result is a comprehensive educational program that emphasizes local food, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and active student participation. This is achieved by connecting multiple areas of expertise through a consortium—five distinct institutions working together to provide an integrated pathway to a vital and entrepreneurial region .
Dit is geen standaard onderwijsprogramma – het is een krachtig vernieuwend voorbeeld van hoe je met onderwijs gezondheid, ondernemerschap en regionale vitaliteit in beweging zet. Een aanpak die als inspirerend gezien mag worden, juist óók voor andere regio's!
Tamara de Haan, Directeur OBS Dr.J.Botkeskoalle, ROOBOL | Projectleider Sûn en Lekker Ite
The Sûn-Lekker-Iten@School project contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals
De win-win impact van ROOBOL
This project strengthens the position of children and young people by equipping them through education with essential knowledge and skills in healthy nutrition and entrepreneurship. This prepares them for a sustainable future and enables them to actively contribute to a vibrant community. For the government, the initiative means reinforced regional development and more efficient policy; citizens benefit from improved quality of life and greater economic opportunities, while a focus on sustainable, local food supports biodiversity and a healthier planet.
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