Mother and daughter on welfare "often takes the month long '

Henrike's daughter Dunya is one of the nearly 223 000 children who grow up in a family assistance, according to figures from Statistics Netherlands. Especially in Rotterdam and Amsterdam is home to many families who are on welfare.

Laning worked in child care when she was a few years ago suddenly unemployed. Since January 2014 they are on welfare and she works retain their benefits as a teaching assistant at an elementary school. Monthly Laning must survive on 940 euros, which is not easy with a daughter of eight, she says. "Often the month is a little too long, I get a message from my bank at the supermarket checkout that I'm red."

"She is now eight, so I do not think they can remember well how it was when I still had a job. If she says she wants something, new clothes or new shoes, then I often say no. Mostly find I have a solution for it, but it often can not immediately, "says Laning. She tries her daughter always explain why they have to say no. "Fortunately, she accepts it. I did not used to be anything I wanted. I also think they need to learn that."

Dunya daughter really likes sports and can continue to do so with the help of the municipality of Amsterdam. "Thanks to the school supplies, the fund youth sports and youth culture fund can my daughter do just to ballet and to aikido. She has a lot of activities and I think that is important," says Laning. "But it would not be possible if the church would not help."

Yet it is not always easy must recognize Laning. If she wants to do something extra for Dunya often it can not happen overnight. "I do sometimes something bigger buy her, or continue to go on vacation together or make more trips. But fortunately Amsterdam also very beautiful."

The work at the elementary school does Laning, threatening to walk off, because DWI want Laning is paid back to work. That would mean they would have to take any paid job. In recent weeks she made herself very much about how that new work should combine with caring for her daughter.

"She could tell that I was very nervous, but I try to be very open and to tell you that I really would like to remain in primary school I explained that I might be a little faster gets angry and then she said,.. 'But I still can not do anything. "Fortunately it every time it well," says Laning.

Henrike Laning is 41 years and writes three times a week for the blog mamaplaats.nl.

© RTL Nieuws / Tim Senden