Degroof Petercam Foundation announces the winners of The Lab 2025

Anne-Sophie Pype - Board member - Managing Director, Degroof Petercam Foundation

Vanessa Speleers - Junior Program Manager

The Degroof Petercam Foundation (DPF) has just revealed the first winners of its Lab program, launched in 2024. The selected projects—BB Welcome by Impactoo (childcare), Petit Vélo Jaune (mentoring), and Label by Be Family & La Ligue des Familles (work-life balance)—all aim to improve the balance between parenthood and work in Belgium.

The Degroof Petercam Foundation is well known for its prestigious annual DPF Award. However, since last year, DPF has also positioned itself as a facilitator of solutions for specific employment challenges in Belgium.

Identifying, mobilizing, and addressing challenges

The Lab was created with the belief that complex problems are best tackled through collective action. Rather than waiting for issues to escalate, DPF proactively identifies pressing challenges and mobilizes diverse stakeholders - including citizens, social organizations, governments, financiers, and experts - to address them together.

To achieve this, the foundation employs an innovative five-step program that not only brings stakeholders together but also leverages modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to analyze data efficiently and accelerate progress.

The first selected theme focuses on balancing parenthood and work, a topic of great concern for many parents. A global study of 42 countries ranked Belgium as the third most affected by parental burnout. Additionally, 40% of women work part-time compared to just 12% of men, leaving many women financially vulnerable. Did you know there is a ‘motherhood penalty’ in the workplace, while fathers often benefit from a ‘fatherhood bonus’?

A large-scale survey

To explore ways to better balance work and parenthood, DPF conducted a national survey in May last year. The initiative received an overwhelming response, with over 180,000 votes cast and 665 proposals submitted by citizens.

The survey provided valuable insights, leading to the identification of three key priorities: accessibility of childcare services, inclusive family support, and workplace adaptation. With its innovative approach, The Lab enables local actors to propose and implement solutions.

Three projects, One common goal

Following a rigorous selection and project refinement process, three promising initiatives were chosen. The focus was not only on strengthening individual projects but also on fostering synergies between them.

Each project offers Belgium-focused solutions with strong potential for long-term sustainability beyond DPF’s support:

BB Welcome by Impactoo

Thousands of families struggle to find childcare, forcing parents—often mothers—to reduce their working hours. A significant number of childcare facilities have shut down, and another 10,000 places are at risk. BB Welcome, in partnership with the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and local municipalities, proposes a viable financing solution to prevent further closures and create new childcare facilities by combining efforts from both the public and private sectors.

Petit Vélo Jaune

Petit Vélo Jaune supports single-parent families, primarily women, who face financial and social difficulties. Through weekly volunteer visits, the initiative aims to reduce isolation, boost self-confidence, and promote autonomy at each individual’s own pace. This support helps parents regain control over their lives, opening up new opportunities in employment, education, and social integration.

Label by Be Family, in cooperation with La Ligue des Familles

La Ligue des Familles and Be Family have developed a certification program to assess, evaluate, and measure the impact of family-friendly workplace policies. They offer expertise in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), diversity and inclusion, and understanding family needs. Together, they advocate for legislative changes to help Belgian parents achieve a better work-life balance. This partnership was made possible through Make Mothers Matter.

DPF’s support aims to fund and accelerate these promising projects. The ultimate goal is to ensure that parents are no longer forced to quit or reduce their work commitments to care for their children—benefiting not only the workforce but society as a whole.

I sincerely congratulate the three winning organizations. They have been selected for their promising solutions to a critical issue that hinders many parents’ access to employment. The overwhelming response to The Lab’s large-scale survey last year highlights the urgency of this challenge. The first step has been taken—now, let’s continue building on this initiative together!

Anne-Sophie Pype, managing director Degroof Petercam Foundation

Next steps?

In collaboration with key stakeholders, the three projects will now focus on their long-term development. DPF is not merely an observer but an active participant in this journey. Practically, this means tailored support for fundraising, partnership development, impact measurement, and visibility, in collaboration with the Make.org Foundation. Financially, each initiative will receive €50,000, which they can allocate as needed to advance their mission.

Discover our aftermovie

Share the article

More about: