Bo the Teddy Bear Raises Awareness for Children Who Need a Second Home
You may have already noticed him: Beer Bo. A big teddy bear in a place where you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find him. In the library in Aalten, at the HumanKind daycare center (De Kabouter location), and at AZSV in the Villekamp sports park.
Beer Bo isn’t just sitting there for no reason. He’s looking for a second home—but not for himself. During Foster Care Week, from Wednesday, October 28, through Wednesday, November 4, Beer Bo and 114 other bears are raising awareness about children who, temporarily or partially, cannot live at home.
Foster parents are needed in the municipality of Aalten as well
In the municipality of Aalten, 10 children are currently looking for a place to stay for a short or longer period of time. Sometimes it’s a child who temporarily cannot live at home. Sometimes it’s a family that needs extra support for a few days each month.
The campaign is an initiative of Entrea Lindenhout and the municipality of Aalten. Alderman Rik van Lochem supports the campaign and hopes that Beer Bo will get people thinking.
“Foster care may seem like a big or distant concept. But it could also involve a family from your own village or municipality. That family could benefit immensely from receiving temporary support through foster care from the Health for their child. As a municipality, we believe it’s important for children to grow up safely and in an environment that feels as much like home as possible. Hopefully, Beer Bo will get people thinking. Sometimes, even a small gesture can make a big difference.”
Joost van de Wetering of Entrea Lindenhout also emphasizes that people can make a difference in a child’s life in various ways.
“Too few people realize that they can make a big difference just by offering a child a safe and welcoming place to stay from time to time. With Beer Bo, we want to spark a conversation about foster care in a human way—not in a heavy-handed or preachy way, but in a visible, gentle, and relatable way. So that people might ask themselves, perhaps for the first time: ‘Could I make a difference in a child’s life?’”
Want to learn more about foster care?
Next to Beer Bo is a stackable cube containing information, stories, and statistics about foster care. By scanning the QR code, residents can find more information about foster care, read stories from foster parents, and request an information packet with no obligation.
Want to learn more right now? You can find more information about foster care and the opportunities to offer a child a second home at www.beerbozoekteen2ethuis.com.