In 2022, KSV Franciscus sold Christmas baubles for charity. Photo Francerious Request Like the Dutch national radio campaign Serious Request, for a couple of years the Franciscans have had a radio marathon to raise money for charity. This year’s charity is the Van Wal Naar Schip foundation, which helps children in low-income families in Wageningen with gifts and other things at key moments in the year.
Inge Verhoeven (21), Animal Sciences Bachelor’s student and one of the organizers of Francerious Request 2023, explains: ‘We will be broadcasting radio programmes for three days straight and organizing activities to raise as much money as possible. What kind of activities? Last year, for instance, a group of first-year members collected beer crates and donated the deposit money. This year, a year club wants to do a 350 to 400 kilometre skelter trip along the Rhine and raise money that way. But it could also be smaller scale activities such as selling Christmas baubles or arranging bingo for local seniors.’
Gifts
How did the organization decide on this year’s charity? ‘We were looking for charities in the local area and we liked the idea of doing something for children. This foundation helps low-income families get gifts for children on their birthday or for Saint Nicholas and Christmas. That doesn’t sound like much but it means these children can have a more carefree childhood and reduces the gap between them and children from wealthier families.’
The first Francerious Request was organized in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. It has now become an annually recurring tradition. ‘It gets bigger every year,’ says Verhoeven. ‘The charity last year was Manege Zonder Drempels, stables where people with multiple disabilities can relax with horses.’ They raised over 2.500 euros that time.
