IMC Weekend School
IMC Weekend School offers additional, inspiration based education to children(aged 10-14) from underprivileged neighborhoods. Through our programs we provide students with the skills, knowledge and audacity that are needed to find a place in society that matches their capacities. The contacts created between passionate professionals and students bridge social inequalities, and affect both parties. In an alumni program, guest teachers, sponsors and alumni stay connected, and develop professional relationships.
In 1998, psychologist Heleen Terwijn founded IMC Weekend School in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in collaboration with trading company IMC (International Marketmakers Combination). In 2018 it branched throughout the Netherlands with 10 locations. In addition it started the programs IMC Basis and IMC on Tour. As well as sister schools in Brussels, Belgium, named TADA, one in Mexico, named Mundo de Talentos (since february 2019) and one in Malaysia named We Can Academy (since january 2020).
Today we offer our educational programs over 58 locations throughout the Netherlands. Over 3.000 students follow one of our programs on a weekly base.
Our programs
IMC Weekendschool
Our IMC Weekendschool program offers a three-year course, professionals (volunteers) introduce students to a wide range of topics, including journalism, medicine, law, philosophy, the arts, astronomy and entrepreneurship. The curriculum also includes training skills such as presentation, research, debate, collaboration, and conflict resolution. It is an education focused on developing an all-rounded character. Lessons are 3 years, every sunday and take place on Weekendschool locations in one of the big cities in the Netherlands. Students are aged 10-14 years old.
IMC Basis
We work towards system-change by running the program in a growing number of regular schools throughout the Netherlands during regular school time with the support of the Ministry of Education (currently 37 branches). Lessons are at the regular schools and during school time. The program lasts 2 years and are for groups 7 & 8.
IMC on Tour
IMC on Tour offers after-school education for 1 year, focused on newcomer children.The lessons take place in langue-classes and international transition classes.
IMC Alumni
After ‘graduating’ from on of our programs alumni connect in a vibrant network: IMC Alumni (3200 members in 2020). Among other activities for self-development, alumni teach the younger generations. Alumni embody the ideals of the Weekend School, ‘learn from your elders;’ ‘pursue your talents,’ and ‘give back.’ IMC Alumni organises a wide variety of activities, among which trainings, professional communities, and alumni boards.
Funding
Over a hundred companies and foundations finance our programs and organization. There are over three hundred pro bono partners.
Research
IMC Weekend School has a Research and Development department that collaborates with universities to study the impact of the four programs: IMC Weekend Schools, IMC Basis, IMC on Tour and IMC Alumni. Partners that we collaborated with are University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Strategy&, the strategy consulting business unit of PricewaterhouseCoopers, University of Utrecht, Ruigrok Netpanel and the University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. Data shows that our alumni have better professional prospects, are more confident, more motivated to persist in the school system and to develop their capacities, and are better connected to society than control groups. Please read a Summery of our research (PDF)
International recognition
- In 2009, IMC Weekend School was awarded winner at the Marketplace of Ideas (United Nations Alliance of Civilizations).
- In 2010, IMC Weekend School was a finalist for the WISE Awards (World Innovation Summit for Education).
- In 2016, IMC Weekend School was finalist for the Brock International Prize in Education.
Building a Global Network
IMC Weekend School welcomes social entrepreneurs who wish to set up Weekend Schools in their own countries. Social entrepreneurs will be trained intensively at the Weekend Schools’ headquarters in Amsterdam, and will receive subsequent on the ground and on-line support. Social entrepreneurs will organize their own fundraising, and set up their own independent organizations. As sister schools, we work with the same concept and ideals, share knowledge, align pr, and organize alumni exchanges. Together, we build a global network of Weekend Schools.
Article:
Weekend School example for boosting entrepreneurship
IMC Weekend School is a good example for stimulating an entrepreneurial mindset in youngsters according to the E-COOL project. Last Thursday, February 4 2020 an online workshop about entrepreneurship was open to an international audience of education and entrepreneurship professionals throughout Europe. The Dutch E-COOL project partner Hanze University of Applied Sciences presented this best practice together with Alfa-college and IMC Weekend School.
Read the full article in English, or in Dutch.
Contact
Feel free to get in touch. Please contact us via:
E: info@weekendschool.nl
P: +31 20 280 17 00
In 2021, IMC Weekend School celebrates it’s 23th anniversary
