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Date: 21-01-2025
vcok-team

Introducing VCOK: A New Member of the ISSA Network

Tags: parenting support, training, holistic approach, family

Introducing VCOK: A New Member of the ISSA Network

We are delighted to welcome VCOK, a Belgian training center specializing in parenting, as a new member of the ISSA network. Rooted in the belief that "it takes a village to raise a child," VCOK’s mission aligns seamlessly with ISSA’s commitment to fostering inclusive and high-quality early childhood education and care. Through its dynamic approach to professionalization and community engagement, VCOK has been making meaningful contributions to families, caregivers, and professionals in Belgium.

Day-to-Day Impact

VCOK’s work centers on two key domains: the professionalization of childcare employees and socio-cultural adult education. These activities reflect their overarching mission to stimulate learning, connect people, and critically approach parenting. By constantly innovating and collaborating with partner organizations, VCOK ensures that their services remain relevant and impactful.

Professional Support

VCOK’s offerings for professionals in family care, group care, and out-of-school childcare include training programs, webinars, individual coaching, team coaching, learning networks, and tailored solutions. This comprehensive pedagogical support helps childcare workers, teams, and managers to improve the quality of care they provide, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.

Community Engagementcomm-engage

Beyond professional training, VCOK engages a broader audience of parents, grandparents, and educators through diverse workshops, lecture series, webinars, parent-child activities, and participatory projects. These initiatives empower families and communities, creating opportunities for meaningful connections and shared learning experiences.

Stories of Success

VCOK’s impact is visible not only in individual success stories but also in broader quality improvements in childcare. For instance, their pedagogical coaches collaborate directly with daycare staff and managers, achieving tangible results such as enhancing personnel management skills and introducing innovative play techniques for children. One standout success stems from the quality measurement project (MeMoQ) commissioned by the Flemish government. The findings revealed a noticeable improvement in childcare quality in recent years, attributed in part to the direct engagement of VCOK’s coaches and support staff. While challenges remain, this upward trend is a testament to VCOK’s dedication and the effectiveness of their approach.

Sharing Knowledge and Skills

As a new member of ISSA, VCOK brings a wealth of expertise in childcare training and adjacent areas such as preschool education and caregiver training. Their close collaboration with VBJK, a leading research and development organization, ensures that their training programs are both evidence-based and practice-oriented. Furthermore, VCOK has pioneered methodologies to amplify the voices of parents and other educators in policymaking processes, particularly at the local level. Allowing their voices to be heard in political issuesteam that concern them.

Looking Ahead: Collaboration Opportunities

While VCOK is a relatively small organization, its ambitions within the ISSA network are significant. Initially, they hope to engage operationally by learning from the experiences and knowledge of fellow members. Over time, they aspire to participate in broader collaborative projects to develop innovative practices and methodologies for early childhood care and education. By joining the ISSA network, VCOK aims to strengthen its offerings, expand its impact, and contribute to a collective vision of quality and equity in early childhood development.

We are thrilled to have VCOK join the ISSA network and look forward to the insights and innovations they will bring to our shared mission.


Interested in collaborating or learning more about VCOK? Access their website here.