In 1989, 194 countries ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, agreeing that every child has the right to grow up healthy, strong, educated, and able to contribute to society.
Much has improved since then—better healthcare, wider access to education, and restrictions on child labour, female genital mutilation, and corporal punishment.
Yet, the children who were most vulnerable then are still the most vulnerable today. In many places, their situation has worsened. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed them even further into hardship.
If we fail to act, UNICEF warns that by 2030:
- 333 million children will live in extreme poverty.
- 150 million are chronically undernourished
- 138 million involved in child labor
- 251 million children do not attend school
These are not just numbers. They are real children. Their lives. Their struggles. Their stories.
(The State of the World's Children 2016, Unicef)
We are 10CHILDREN -art for change-.
We aim to make the unfelt felt, the unspoken spoken, the hopeless hopeful.
In 10 cities worldwide, we tell the stories of children facing poverty in all its forms.
Statistics alone don’t move hearts—stories do. Art can make the invisible visible, and bring these children’s realities close. Not to inspire pity, but to show potential, resilience, and strength.
In each city, theatre makers, filmmakers, and visual artists join forces with local organizations dedicated to children’s welfare. Together, they create safe spaces where children can speak freely—as experts of their own lives.
Their words inspire theatre plays, exhibitions, documentaries, and educational programs that spark awareness and action. Our goal: to end invisibility, foster respect, and drive real change.
When all 10 projects are complete, they will come together at the 10CHILDREN Festival—a worldwide celebration of art and advocacy.
The festival will feature a congress on childhood poverty, placing the children’s own voices and solutions at the centre. This is when we will stand together and say:
We must act. Now.
Liesbeth Coltof & Dennis Meyer
10CHILDREN IN ACTION
In 10 cities in 10 countries, an international and local community of children, young people, professional artists, museums, theaters, film schools, as well as universities, humanitarian organizations and NGOs will work together on various art projects.The stories of the children and their perspectives are central. They are the authors and the experts.
Liesbeth Coltof is an internationally respected theater director. She was the artistic director of one of the most important theater companies for children and young people in the Netherlands, the Toneelmakerij, and has received important prizes at home and abroad for her work. She has extensive experience in working in war zones and countries in conflict or poverty, such as in Palestine (Gaza), Nigeria, Russia and Iran. For her 'special merits of a very exceptional nature for society' she joined the Order of the Netherlands Lion as a Knight. (extensive CV)
Dennis Meyer is a dramaturg, theater teacher and policy advisor and was artistic director of Het Lab Utrecht, a theater organization where young professional theater makers worked for children and young people. He also set up several art festivals and was a youth theater specialist at the Theater Institute Netherlands for a long time, where he set up various international projects.
The board of the 10CHILDREN Foundation consists of Valentijn Ouwens (chairman) and Cobie de Vos (secretary). We are searching for two new members. Look here for the job description (in Dutch).
Journalist Marian Buijs interviewed Liesbeth Coltof and Dennis Meyer on 10CHILDREN. You can read the interview here.
Gorterspad 7
NL-1544RW Zaandijk
info@10children.org
+31(0)655195855 D.Meyer
+31(0)651707521 L.Coltof
