Menu
‘We are the matchmaker between the Dutch business community and local initiatives in Asia and Africa,’ begins Annelieke. ‘ Every child should have the chance to build his or her own future, but unfortunately this is still far from being true there. That is why, with Net4kids, we provide education, healthcare and a safe environment for vulnerable young people in Asia and Africa by linking Dutch companies to child aid projects. Companies not only contribute financially, but also with their time and expertise. Together, we look for the perfect match, working in co-creation towards sustainable solutions.
‘At Rhiza, we build holistic communities in South Africa,’ Robbert explains. ‘We work closely with local communities, governments and businesses to increase self-reliance and resilience. For preschoolers (< 7 years) in townships, we focus specifically on education. There, pre-school facilities are often nothing more than childcare, with no attention to motor and social skills. Children cannot catch up with this deficit later on, which severely limits their chances of further education and employment.’.
One teacher once said something that has stayed with me: ‘The goal is not that a child can write his name, but that he learns how to write.’ That kind of insight makes a world of difference.’
He adds, ‘This is why we focus on children under the age of seven. By giving them a fair start, we can break the vicious circle of poverty.’
‘When Been Management Consulting approached us, we immediately felt a connection,’ says Annelieke. ‘They wanted a project in line with their core business. For consultants, sharing knowledge is their strength. We linked them to Rhiza and set up a plan together. This kind of co-creation is what we are good at. The result is a project that makes an impact, both locally and within Been Management Consulting.’
Robbert: ‘Together with Been Management Consulting, we set up a project to train kindergarten teachers. Many of them have no teaching background and lacked basic knowledge about teaching. Working with the local community, we looked at the greatest needs. Based on this, we developed five master classes together with Been Management Consulting.’
‘The best part is that the master classes are now fully embedded in the curriculum,’ Robbert says proudly. ‘Even if Been Mangement Consulting is no longer directly involved, the teachers pass on the knowledge to the new batch. The Train-The-Trainer principle really ensures lasting impact.’
‘What also struck me was the connection the consultants managed to make with the local teachers. This was so authentic and genuine, despite the huge differences between their worlds. The ice was quickly broken, and a mutual respect developed that ensured a lot of openness,’ he says.
Annelieke adds, ‘We not only helped the kindergarten teachers, but also helped raise awareness within Been Management Consulting. Employees who gave the online master classes saw how their knowledge contributes directly to empowering this vulnerable target group in townships. This increases their awareness of global challenges and their own role in them. It strengthens commitment and shows that you can really make an impact as a company.’
‘We are immensely proud to have been able to bring Rhiza and Been Management Consulting together,’ says Annelieke. ‘The project we set up will live on, even now that this particular case has been completed. That is exactly what we wanted to achieve.’
‘In addition, the collaboration has led to a new phase,’ she continues. ‘Been Management Consulting is now helping us draft our own Theory of Change and our CSRD strategy. In doing so, we are strengthening our own organisation and increasing our impact. It is not only valuable, but also incredibly fun!’
Annelieke: ‘Don’t underestimate what your knowledge and skills can mean. What is natural for you can be life-changing for someone else. Do you want to work purpose-driven? Come talk to us. Together, we’ll see how we can make an impact. We are ready to make more of a difference!’
Robbert concludes: ‘And don’t forget: if you help only one person, you often help a whole family. The impact is bigger than you think.’
Customer Engagement Manager
Don’t hesitate to call Iris directly via +31 (0)6 10 81 9420.
Or fill out the contact form below.
Bezoekadres
Hendrik Walaardt Sacréstraat 451
1117 BM Schiphol
© Been Management Consulting 2025
Ultimate beneficial owner: Roel Beentjes
