Making Granny Sustainable

Good day everyone, Betty van Waesberghe, director of Teacher Training College Arnhem, says to children of year 6 of the primary school Johannesschool in Arnhem. ‘I am here to read you a little story.Today is the day of sustainability. Do you know what that it?’ Most of the children nod. ‘The story I am going to read is also about sustainability. It is called Sustainable Granny and it was written for this special day, by Sjoerd Kuyper. Does anybody know another book of his?’ A girl raises her hand: ‘I have got a book written by him, but I forgot the title.’ ‘Was it The Pocketknife?’ the former teacher asks. The girl nods. 

Van Waesberghe, who has made her reading-services available on this day just like members of the executive board Ron Bormans and Kristel Baele, feels like a fish in water in the circle of kids. The story is about the creative ideas of two grandchildren Louise and Bennie, who try to make their grandmother more sustainable in order to lengthen her life. For example, Bennie suggests constructing a rollator for Granny. ‘We use a wheelbarrow and the wheels on both sides of my bicycle to construct it. When granny hears about the ideas, two big tears stream down her cheeks. Her grandson is there as lightning to collect the teardrops. The salt will be put on their boiled eggs tomorrow morning,’ Van Waesberghe ends her story with a smile. The kids listen patiently and laugh regularly. Afterwards, van Waesberghe asks the pupils what they think of the story. One of the boys answers in a dry tone: ‘I’d rather have this the whole day, than class.’