Princess Laurentien as Patron for Literacy and Learning

[Paty]

Princess Laurentien attended the National Alphabetize Awards at the Library in Amsterdam.

The Princess held a speech ''Literacy is the best Remedy''. 8th September is proclaimed, since 1966 by the UNESCO, as WorldLiteracyDay

PPE Agency Amsterdam

[giov]

Pics from Belga Picture
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[lucien]

Originally Posted by Paty

Princess Laurentien attended the National Alphabetize Awards at the Library in Amsterdam.

The Princess held a speech ''Literacy is the best Remedy''. 8th September is proclaimed, since 1966 by the UNESCO, as WorldLiteracyDay

PPE Agency Amsterdam

http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/content.jsp?objectid=26214

HRH is staying in The Netherlands for a few days,busy as she is with her cause,the fight against Illiteracy,who's strongest advocate she is.HRH gave an interview,too long to translate all of it,but here are some bits and pieces:

She reads to the children,mostly while they'll have a bath in the evening,more often than not that can be up to three books a time;"Eloise loves anything pink and stories for/about girls,Claus loves big boys books and wee Leonor has a opinion of her own"."In bed we curl up with the four of us,reading,só wonderfull if you take the time for it".

That same evening HRH has a meeting to attend,so the ritual is adjusted ;"Because mommy has to go work' .

"Illiterates often miss a senses of dignity towards themselves,fear and embarresment rule,and they don't dare to take part in society""Afraid to take public transport,unable to read bills,unable to read priscriptions for meds which can be very dangerous,vulnerable economically".

"I know a carpenter who got into trouble after he had a promotion and had to work with computers,he couldn't read nor write.His boss took it great and did send him to school to learn".

"I also know this man who could hide he couldn't read nor write for his wife for 25 years.I burst into tears when I heard that.We can not take it for granted that so many illiterate live in isolation".

The number of Illiterates is still as large as it was when you started,how's that possible?

"Most of all because it is such a stubborn problem.When I started out there were plenty of laughing reactions like;"Illiteracy?That's a problem in the development countries".It is not,in The Netherlands we still have 1.5 million peopple that are unable to read and write decently,The Netherlands needed a wake-up call".

Not by pointing a finger - I'm not about that - but we really had to work hard to get attention for this problem,companies,doctors,
municipalities,schools,you name it,all should be alerted by illiteracy and take up responsibility".I was at a pediatricians meeting the other day and the doctors wondered why so many people didn't show up at appointments.Turned out patients had to fill in lists,had they thought of the fact these people couldn't read and write?"
They got a little red on the cheeks,as they'd never given that a thought".

"Thank goodness there are so many wonderfull experiences as well as over 9000 people annually take up lessons/courses ".

Her daily everyday life is in Brussels,the family lives there several years now and they feel great doing so.The children are at school,french-speaking school so they're educated bi-lingual,and Leonore will join Eloise and Claus there in january.If both parents are at home,the whole family walks to school in the morning.The afternoon will see the nanny taking care as both parents work.

Your children are raised in a priviliged environment,you can give them everything.A big contrast with the world of the illiterate.

`Yes,I realise that fully,but we´re not the sort of parents that run along with their kids from here to there and to the next appoinment,Eloise has ballet lessons and Claus has piano lessons,that´s it.Ofcourse you want to stimulate them,but that is not the essence in the end`.We take it very relaxed,if the children feel OK,it all comes natural.Having this easy attitude has much to do with what I learned from illiterates,I view the awareness of selfconfidence".

How do you combine work and family?

"That's a puzzle in a ever changing situation!Eloise has homework from school for the first time,and I've already planned days till december that I want to help her out with that a few days a week,she's entering a new fase and I want to be there for her.Being a mother also gives a lot of energy,the happy,silly,funny moments you have with children,and the moments you think;"Grrrrr!"........But I always try to take the angel out with humour".

Wonderfull interview,just too long to translate it all:
Achtergronden Royalblog.nl: Laurentien leert veel van laaggeletterden

[Paty]

Princess Laurentien at a pressconference at Nieuwspoort in The Hague.
The Princess revealed a new plan for illiteracy.

PPE Agency The Hague

[sgl]

I really admire Laurentien for her devotion to this cause. I was particularly impressed with the interview that Lucien posted above. She has done her homework on this issue, and seems to genuinely care about doing something to combat illiteracy.

[Marengo]

Thanks for translating much of the interview lucien, it is appreciated!

--
In a press conference Princess Laurentien said that she will be helped by 28 well known Dutch people to ask for attention for ill literacy. Some of them: singer Frans Bauer, swimmer Pieter van den Hoogenband, tv-presentor Paul de Leeuw, tv-presentor Daphne Deckers, violinist André Rieu en tv-presentor Wendy van Dijk.

The princess said that help is needed since the cause still has a low priority and because it still is a sort of taboo.

Source: royalblog.nl

[lucien]

By invitation of First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush Princess Laurentien will attend and speech at the White House Symposium on the Advancing Global Literacy,
Metropolitan Museum,NYC,monday september 22nd.
Het Koninklijk Huis

[lucien]

Speech by HRH Princess Laurentien at the White House Symposium on Advancing Global Literacy,Metropolitan Museum,New York City:

Het Koninklijk Huis

[acdc1]

Is there a video of her speaking there? Or any pictures?

[sgl]

I would love to see pictures of her speaking. Maybe some will be released in the next few days?

[lucien]

Originally Posted by sgl

I would love to see pictures of her speaking. Maybe some will be released in the next few days?

No,none,sorry.

HRH will be on a working visit to the province of Zeeland on monday the 6th,with the Minister for Education,Culture and Sciences,Mr.Ronald Plasterk,in her slipstream.The working visit in focused on the fight against illiteracy and in that frame HRH and her party will visit Middelburg and Vlissingen.

Het Koninklijk Huis

note:Yes,Middlesborough and Flushing for our forum members and lurkers from the US,the names derived from these dutch cities.

[sneeuwklokje]

The same goes for Brooklyn (= Breukelen) and Harlem (= Haarlem).

[Marengo]

Princess Laurentien was in Zeeland yesterday with minister Plasterk of Education (Labour). It seems the agencies missed it but luckily royalfanvivian was there and made some lovely photos (as usual) and she got a handshake of the princess too. Look at her website here.

--
Edit:
PZC has one photo, look here. The man with the hat is the minister of Education.

[lucien]

HRH will attend,and speech at,the annual MKB congress The Hague today.

Het Koninklijk Huis

[giov]

10-11-2008 The Hague Princess Laurentien attended the congress of the MKB-Nederland in The Hague.
PPE Agency

[Marengo]

Nice to see that the prime minister was there too, considering the important role the MKB has in society.
At first glance the MKB has next to nothing to do wih Laurentiens role with illiteracy I have moved the posts to the current event thread of Constantijn and Laurentien. The MKB stands for Midden & Klein Bedrijf Nederland, an organisation representing the smaller businesses. But the princess held a speech emphasizing the importance of litteracy in business

[sgl]

Thank you for the information, Marengo. It is nice to see that Laurentiene was there to emphasize literacy in business (something that is very important, that we don't often think about). Laurentiene looked wonderful.

[lucien]

The Princess,Patron of the NLBB,will open the Louis Braille Year this saturday january 10,Utrecht.

It thus honours the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille,and aims at social integration and participation
of the blind and visibly disabled and to get these issues on the public and political agenda.
Het Koninklijk Huis

[iceflower]

Princess Laurentien at the opening of the Louis Braille year 2009 on
the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille Utrecht,10.01.09

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **

[QUEENECE29]

Princess Laurentien opened 10th Janaury the Braillejaar in the Beatrixtheatre in Utrecht.

Royal Press Europe - Royal Photoagency - © Albert Nieboer & Albert Philip van der Werf