Doenkracht

We help, for example, by teaching at schools. And by facilitating the development of educational material that allows parents, teachers, volunteers and social workers to engage in conversations about money. How do you handle money responsibly, what are the possibilities and pitfalls of dealing with money? And how do you make sure you have enough money later on in life? Our main focus is on young people and (MBO) students. In doing so, we work together with partners, offering an educational package aimed at preventing financial problems.

Specifically, we do this by:

• funding organisations to develop and implement an educational package that focuses on preventing financial problems, especially among young people and (MBO) students. 
• offering a.s.r. employees the opportunity to volunteer where possible and appropriate.
• strengthening the effectiveness of the educational package over time by enabling broad-based and widely accepted impact measurement at the beginning of the collaboration.
• scientific insights on effective financial education into practice through a concrete instrument: het Reflectieraster (The Reflection Framework), which enables the education sector to assess to what extent teaching materials are truly effective and contribute to the financial resilience of young people.
  We elaborated this in the whitepaper (only available in Dutch) Naar effectieve financiële educatie in het onderwijs: dit werkt! (Towards effective financial education in schools: this works!) with clear effective elements, conditions for success, and the Reflection Framework, allowing schools and providers to further refine and strengthen their lessons.

Educational material made possible by a.s.r.
a.s.r. already has the necessary experience in making educational material financially possible.

• a.s.r. supports Stichting KiKiD’s Geld & Geluk (Money & Happiness) lessons. These free and interactive lessons are designed for secondary education students, especially those in classes 2, 3 and 4. The aim is to make young people aware of financial choices and prepare them to handle money responsibly. All lessons are available for free via the Lesson Up platform. 
• At the request of a.s.r., Nibud developed the Financial self-reliance Quickscan especially for MBO students. This quickscan, based on the Nibud learning objectives and competences, offers students insight into their personal financial self-reliance and helps them make smart financial choices. Teachers can also see how financially self-reliant their students are and which topics need extra attention. The Quicksan is available free of charge via the Nibud Academy and Wijzer in Geldzaken.
• In addition to the Nibud's online course “Ik krijg nóóóóit wat!” (l never ever get anything), a.s.r. also co-developed and made possible the live parents’ workshop. The online course enables parents to work on their children's financial education. Through this course, parents can cover topics such as saving, paying safely and making choices from home and at their own pace.
• The transition from education to a first job brings many financial changes. The interactive tool 'Sterke Start: Jouw eerste baan' from Nibud focuses on raising awareness, promoting understanding, and providing opportunities for newcomers to the job market to manage their finances. Employers can use the tool as an onboarding tool or as part of a broader vitality approach. The tool was developed with support from a.s.r. and is available for free at https://www.nibud.nl/eerste-baan-tool/ (Only available in Dutch).

Indirect effects in preventing financial problems
The social programme Doenkracht has a number of indirect effects that it aims to achieve, formulated in a Theory of Change (ToC). The ToC model is meant to give structured thought to the objectives to be achieved and what is and is not being done to get there. It is, as it were, a roadmap for achieving change (impact), based on practical knowledge and relevant literature. Because young people and (MBO) students are better prepared for (future) financial choices and risks, we expect to contribute to six indirect effects through our partners, with an educational package that focuses on preventing financial problems. In our Theory of Change, we formulated these as follows:

• Participants experience more awareness about the fact that and how you can get into debt and the importance of preventing this;
• Participants have new knowledge/insights on which financial choices are relevant and when, and where to go to avoid problems in this context;
• Participants have improved skills for considered financial choices (including budgeting);
• Participants realise the importance of an active attitude to make considered financial choices: attitude/motivation;
• Participants find it easier to discuss financial choices and related requests for assistance with others (including friends, family): social standard;
• Participants experience more control over their own financial situation and make more considered financial choices - now, and in the (distant) future: self-control.

Many a.s.r. employees regularly act as guest lecturers. These professionals share their knowledge and experience with schoolchildren and other target groups. For example, they give guest lectures on insurance, pensions and other financial topics. Increasing financial knowledge and skills is crucial in an increasingly complex society and can prevent many problems. In this way, these guest lecturers contribute to a financially aware, self-reliant and resilient society: now and in the (distant) future.

Many guest lectures are held as part of the Week van het Geld (Money Week). This week is an annual event organised by the Wijzer in geldzaken platform. As it is best to start at a young age, this platform aims to prepare children and young people to be financially self-reliant in the future. During Money Week, but also at other times of the year, schools can use teaching materials and activities to focus on learning to deal with money. Various providers, such as banks and insurers, give guest lessons to promote financial education. a.s.r. has participated in Money Week since 2012.

• The teaching programmes used by guest teachers of a.s.r. in their lessons are mostly developed by or on the initiative of third parties. Teaching programmes developed at the request of and with financial support from a.s.r. are listed under 'Our approach'.
• Eurowijs, a teaching programme developed by De Volksbank for all primary, special and lower secondary school groups;
• Fix je Risk, a teaching programme developed by the Dutch Association of Insurers especially for groups 7 and 8 of primary education. Fix your Risk is a digital game in which children playfully discover how insurance actually works. Why is it necessary to insure yourself, what risks are there and what can you do to limit them? But the material is also very practical, for example about what a contribution and a policy are;
• The Zelfverzekerd! programme, developed on behalf of and in cooperation with the Dutch Association of Insurers, offers practical guest lectures to MBO students on essential insurance policies, teaching them which insurance policies are relevant and how to manage money wisely;
• Nu voor later. The Now for later lesson was devised by the Pension Federation and aims to get MBO students thinking about their financial future. What can you do now in order to have your life on track financially later on? The guest lecturers from a.s.r. are mostly employees of a.s.r.’s pensions business.
• LEF stands for Leven en Financiën (Life and Finance) and aims to teach young people in secondary vocational education (MBO) how to manage money wisely. The programme is supported by finance professionals, such as guest lecturers from a.s.r., who volunteer to share their knowledge with the next generation.
• In Moneyways, young role models, also known as peer educators, give guest lectures to young people in secondary (vocational) education. They cover topics such as dealing with money, insurance, debt and peer pressure. Talking openly about these topics breaks a taboo and makes young people more aware of their financial behaviour. The programme was developed by Diversion and Nibud. a.s.r. employees act as buddies to the peer educators and help them answer (difficult) questions about insurance during the guest lectures.

Working with partners is essential because these partners know better than anyone else what approach works best locally. Our contribution to these organisations consists of financial support and sharing our network and skills. Where possible and appropriate, we also use the talent and knowledge of our employees to support these local partners. For example, colleagues can volunteer to help with the Doenkracht programme in the city where they work.

Specifically, we do this by:

• funding partner organisations for the implementation of their projects. These projects are aimed at mitigating (impending) financial problems.
• offering a.s.r. employees the opportunity to volunteer for these projects where possible and appropriate.
• increasing the effectiveness of the projects by offering impact measurement and impact management training to our partners.

In the cities in which we are based; Enschede, Groningen, Heerlen and Utrecht, we work with local partners. They have a project, programme or initiative aimed at mitigating (impending) financial problems. We currently work together with nine partners. Our mostly locally rooted partners:

• work according to a method;
• have a need to learn (from each other);
• want to achieve a demonstrable growth in impact;
• contribute to a.s.r.’s Theory of Change and report their progress on this social impact KPI of a.s.r. on a quarterly basis;
• initiate cooperation with other (in)formal (local) parties;
• understand the added value of working with various types of capital.

We are looking for organisations and/or initiatives that want to become our partner in our Doenkracht programme. We want to support the activities of these partner organisations in various ways. Financially, of course. But also with our enthusiastic employees who like to roll up their sleeves as volunteers. All partners also receive training and support funded by a.s.r. and carried out by Grant Thornton’s Impact House.

Want to participate of know more?
Is your organisation interested in working together or would you like to know more about a.s.r.'s Doenkracht programme? If so, please get in touch without any obligations. You can send an email to: doenkracht@asr.nl.

• Onderneem ’t is an expertise agency in the field of entrepreneurship. It runs the Perron ZZP project. Perron ZZP helps self-employed people (self-employed workers and businesses with up to 10 employees) to find a new perspective with sufficient income and without debts. Usually, this can be done while carrying on with the business, but if there is no other way, Perron ZZP helps with terminating the business and finding a salaried job. The goal is always a sustainable income for the future. a.s.r supports Onderneem ‘t in Groningen so that, with project Perron ZZP, it can occupy a structural place in this city’s approach to self-employed people who are struggling financially.
• Brand New Job is an outplacement, reintegration and career coaching agency. With a national team of 65 coaches, it guides participants to suitable work. Based on their experience, they launched the Geld en Werk (Money and Work) project in 2015. In doing so, they focus on people with (impending) debt who can and want to work (more). The programme consists of intensive group training and an individual coaching programme. The goal for participants is to have sufficient income to get and stay out of debt permanently. a.s.r. supports the scheme for Brand New Job project participants in Leeuwarden and Groningen. A further roll-out to the cities of Utrecht, Heerlen and Enschede in which we are based is planned.
• Spaarkracht is a foundation that promotes savings circles for people with little financial means. Within a savings circle, people encourage each other to save so that each person can achieve their own set savings target. Saving circles not only lead to conscious, healthy financial choices, but also increase their members’ social network and self-confidence. After an initial period of training, a savings circle can continue to operate on its own, empowering its members, for many years. a.s.r. supports Spaarkracht's activities in Groningen and Utrecht and encourages the start-up of savings circles in other cities where a.s.r. is based.
• JobHulpMaatje Enschede is an organisation that supports jobseekers who face barriers to employment in finding suitable work. With the help of trained volunteers, JobHulpMaatje offers personalised guidance and training to help jobseekers improve their skills and increase their chances on the labour market. The support focuses not only on finding employment, but also on boosting self-confidence and expanding the participants’ social networks. a.s.r. supports this organisation by helping to raise awareness among jobseekers who are experiencing financial difficulties.
• Kansrijk Groningen provides personalised and equal support to residents facing complex challenges, placing their own wishes and goals at the centre, with stress reduction as the key to sustainable change. In more than 20 neighbourhoods across the municipality of Groningen, buddies offer tailored guidance across six areas of life, including finances. With support from a.s.r., a dedicated financial buddy is deployed to help residents with (impending) debts gain clarity, access the right support, and navigate the path towards debt assistance. This personal guidance lowers barriers, prevents drop-out, and speeds up access to appropriate help.
• De Tussenvoorziening supports people in Utrecht and the surrounding area who are temporarily homeless or struggling with debts, addiction, or mental health issues. Through the Voiz Academy, they offer a learning and working environment where participants work at their own pace on recovery, self-confidence, and future prospects. By gaining work experience and discovering their talents, they take steps towards an independent life. a.s.r. supports this initiative because it helps people regain control over their lives—not only socially and mentally, but also financially—which is an important step towards sustainable financial resilience and social participation.
• U Centraal is the welfare organisation for residents of Utrecht who have questions about money, care, housing, social contact, or personal development. Together with volunteers and professionals, U Centraal provides practical help, advice, and training. Through the project Samen Impact – Het Verbeterpad naar Financiële Versterking, U Centraal works to improve collaboration between formal and informal support providers, so that residents with financial concerns can be helped more quickly and effectively. a.s.r. supports this initiative because it contributes to strengthening financial resilience in the city by lowering barriers and making support more accessible and better aligned with the everyday reality of residents.
• Het Huis van Verhalen in Enschede is a community hub in the Roombeek neighbourhood where local residents come together to share stories, support one another, and actively contribute to their living environment. Volunteers organise activities such as drop-in afternoons, community meals, and creative workshops. Many visitors live in vulnerable circumstances or face financial insecurity. That’s why Het Huis van Verhalen, in collaboration with Spaarkracht, is launching a savings circle. In a familiar and accessible setting, residents can save together, learn to manage money, and support each other. a.s.r. supports this initiative to help structurally increase financial resilience in the neighbourhood.

The collaboration with the partners Dreamfabryk and FC Utrecht Foundation has been completed.

a.s.r. is a socially engaged organisation that values social responsibility. Our employees often feel motivated to give something back to society and share their expertise with others.

As a financial services provider, a.s.r. has employees with knowledge of financial matters. By doing volunteer work, they can use their expertise to help people with financial challenges.

Financial volunteering offers employees the chance to make a direct impact on the lives of others. This can lead to a sense of fulfilment and meaningful work. The financial volunteer work that a.s.r. employees do is diverse and must fit in with what our partners offer. Not every project can (always) use the help of volunteers.

Examples of volunteer work that a.s.r. colleagues do in the field of mitigating (impending) financial problems include:

• In collaboration with the organizations Tussenvoorziening and U-Centraal, a.s.r. colleagues help households with - a risk of - debt. As a Financial Volunteer at Home, they assist people organise their the financial administration, help people to apply for benefits, sort the mail and teach them how to bank digitally. Volunteers also assist in making financial statements and planning.
• a.s.r. colleagues organise monthly financial consultation hours with a Neighbourhood Team via U-Centraal or give monthly workshops Life Events and Pensions (in Dutch) to give insight into the effects of people's income when they go into retirement.
• In addition to the commitment of colleagues, Doenkracht also funds projects in the field of financial education and lesson programs, as well as programs from partners that assist their participants in preventing worsening debts.

a.s.r. wants to be at the forefront of sustainable business practice in the financial sector. We want to make a positive contribution to making society more sustainable by continuously working to help create solutions that meet the life needs of the current generation without compromising those of future generations. We do this through investments, but also through our products and services.

For companies striving to have a positive impact on society, creating sustainable value and strengthening capitals are essential aspects.

The social programme Doenkracht has a number of indirect effects that it aims to achieve, formulated in 5 types of capital:

• Psychological Capital: refers to the personal attributes that contribute to psychological well-being and resilience. Examples include optimism, hope, self-efficacy and resilience. Psychological Capital plays a role in coping with challenges and achieving goals. In this context, participants of partners of Doenkracht increase their motivation to deal with their financial challenges.
• Social Capital: includes access to and quality of social networks and the extent to which individuals can benefit from their relationships with others. It is about connections, mutual support and the ability to obtain information and resources through social networks. Participants have access to a wider social network for support.
• Human Capital: refers to the skills, knowledge and experience an individual has that contribute to their productivity and economic value. Education, training and work experience for example are all aspects of human capital. Human Capital allows participants to develop greater confidence in their own basic financial skills, for example.
• Economic Capital: concerns financial aspects, including money and material resources. It includes assets, income, investments and other financial resources that contribute to one’s financial stability and prosperity. In the context of (participants of partners of) Doenkracht, it involves, for example, finding a job, a work experience place, or starting a training programme.
• Social Capital: refers to the extent to which society supports the individual or to what extent the system hinders someone in dealing with debt. For example, Doenkracht partner interventions make it easier for people to find their way in the financial system.

The Doenkracht program wants to contribute to these capitals through the efforts of the partner organizations. The capitals have a prominent place in a.s.r.'s Theory of Change.

Teams and departments within a.s.r. can choose from more than forty society projects set out by social organisations that could use some assistance. a.s.r. colleagues take elderly out for a refreshing walk in the forrest or pick fruit with people with intellectual disabilities.

In addition to the team activities, Doenkracht also organises a 'Doenkracht Donderdag' once a year, a (Thurs)day when hundreds of colleagues from all a.s.r. locations engage in volunteer work.

a.s.r. happily supports colleagues volunteering in their private time. With Doenkracht's Encouragement Plan (Dutch: Stimulansplan), employees, who privately work as a volunteer, can annualy receive a financial contribution of up to € 500 for their charity.

a.s.r. is an insurer for all people living and/or working in the Netherlands and takes the interests of vulnerable target groups at heart. Within a.s.r. we also strive for an inclusive culture, where differences are recognised, embraced and, indeed, made use of. Different perspectives, backgrounds, knowledge and experiences contribute to the realisation of a.s.r.’s objectives and are positively deployed in innovative, sustainable solutions.

• Annual review Doenkracht 2024

• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2023
• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2022
• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2021
• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2020
• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2019
• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2018
• Annual review a.s.r. foundation 2017

If you have any questions about Doenkracht, please don't hesitate to send an email to doenkracht@asr.nl