Be heard, even when no one is listening...
In the Netherlands alone, we improve the child welfare of at least 13.000 children by helping them communicate with adults!
Then children in the rest of the world…
Cuddly Toy SAMbuddy
is a soft cuddly toy that can record children's stories and that you can listen to via the (offline) app. SAMbuddy:
- is patient and predictable
- listens without judgment
- gives self-confidence
- helps venting your heart
In the Netherlands 1 in 10 children is bullied, 34,000 children receive special education and there are 62,000 children with an intellectual disability. Sharing feelings and emotions straight to adults can be difficult for them. The Stoytelling Cuddly Toy helps with this.
Focus on the child & social values
Will you join us?
Together with our fans, partners and audience, we will ensure that children are heard, even when no one is listening.
Connect with us and meet:
- the sweet and committed people of sheltered workshop Atelier UnIk. They expertly make the allergy-free cuddly toy from recycled fabric and filling;
- the students of various healthcare courses in the Netherlands. They conduct ongoing research into the impact and importance of the Storytelling Cuddly Toy;
- our network of healthcare and education experts who selflessly advise on the use of SAMbuddy and tailor-made guidance via PGB;
and our team! Because...
We are a socially driven organization (2024) that contributes to child well-being by improving communication between children and adults.
As a company, we are now moving towards the Steward Ownership Model, in which we jointly determine the course and development of SAMbuddy. Do you also want to contribute to that?
Did you know that…
…through donations 5 children, with care needs in a difficult home situation, got their own SAMbuddy?
… you can try out SAMbuddy for a month first?
… you, as a healthcare or education expert, can join the conversation about the development of SAMbuddy?
… SAMbuddy is produced in a social way, with allergy-free and recycled materials?
… SAMbuddy lasts 5 years?
Team
Raoul is general manager and, together with Lex, has been developing Storytelling Cuddly Toy SAMbuddy from the very beginning (2020). Both from years of experience in education and vision on child welfare. Vincent and Roel joined the team in 2023.
Together we work on a particularly valuable goal with an innovative product and a professional network full of experience. We offer full-service support to children in communicating with adults!
Partners
Bullying
Bullying behavior is not always easy to observe. The storytelling cuddly toy can help with this, because the bullied child can talk about it at a time of his or her own choosing. For this application we recommend a private place, such as a quiet room, where the child can talk about what is going on without others seeing this.
Sensitive subjects
The Storytelling Cuddly Toy can play a neutral role on topics such as gender identity, sexual preference, religion, discrimination, refugees. By recording questions and having them asked by the cuddly toy, children often feel safer and less shy about giving an answer.
Parent-child relationship
As a parent, it is not easy to understand what is going on in the child's head. The Storytelling Cuddly Toy can be the bridge between the child's experience and the support of the parent. When used at home, we recommend proper supervision of the cuddly toy by the parent(s). If a child records something and holds down the record button, he/she knows very well that someone is listening. It really wants to be heard.
Speech and Language Education
The Storytelling Cuddly Toy can be used as a tool to practice language skills. Language exercises can be recorded and performed by the child.
Long-term illness
Long-term ill children often receive a lot of functional attention or about the treatment process. But how people feel about this now often remains underexposed. This is also often the case in adult care. The Storytelling Cuddly Toy offers comfort and a buddy during the process. Nursing staff and/or doctors can regularly record new information and questions, so that the child remains informed, but can also tell a story about the situation and thoughts.
Refuge
Being forced to flee your country and find shelter in an unknown country after an extremely difficult journey causes trauma. The Storytelling Cuddly Toy is independent of language, so children can talk to the cuddly toy in their own way.
Fears
When you have fears, the Storytelling Cuddly Toy is a safe listening ear. Recording or singing a story or song in your own familiar voice can reduce anxiety and provide distraction.
Diary
In addition to use between the adult and the child, you can also choose to give the Storytelling Cuddly Toy to the child completely with WiFi code. This can then be used as a diary, for example.
Child in isolation
When a child is forced to be in isolation, the Storytelling Cuddly Toy can provide comfort and an outlet for thoughts.
Nieuw prototype ontwerp Siem de Zon
4 Leerlingen van het Melanchton College in Berschenhoek hebben een nieuwe vorm knuffel ontwikkeld: Siem de Zon. Het is nog een prototype, maar er is zeker interesse om de vorm van een zon op te nemen in de collectie....
Artikel: De Vertelknuffel als geduldige vriend
'Klik-magazine', het kenniscentrum verstandelijk gehandicaptenzorg interviewde ons en schreef een integer verhaal over de essentie van de Vertelknuffel.
Yes!Delft Pitch: Een rustig kind...
“Uniek buitenbeentje met een betekenisvolle missie en veelzijdige oplossing” was wat diverse partijen Lex en mij teruggaven, na een geslaagde pitch met 8 andere, super gedreven, sociale startups bij Yes!Delft. Bekijk hier onze pitch:
Vertelknuffel goes International!
De Vertelknuffel is even op reis naar De World Expo in Dubai!
Samen met Nick van Breda vraagt Sambuddy daar aandacht voor het kind dat gehoord wil worden. In gesprek met diverse internationale organisaties merken we ook daar veel interesse in onze Vertelknuffel, die overigens alle talen spreekt.
Lezing in VR op Event van Stichting ICTU
Nick van Breda en Raoul Postel hebben op het Inspiratiefestival van Stichting ICTU, de ict-organisatie van de overheid, een mooie lezing gegeven over de de ontwikkeling van de Vertelknuffel Sambuddy. Deze werd als livestream uitgezonden naar de bezoekers, maar men kon deze lezing ook in Virtual Reality bijwonen. Veel dank aan ICTU voor deze prachtige gelegenheid!
WINNAAR Computable Awards!
Vertelknuffel interview op Radio 1
Nick van Breda (SamBuddy) is door NPO Radio 1 uitgenodigd om te vertellen over de Vertelknuffel....
Een thuis voor laatste prototypes!
Vandaag een Vertelknuffel mogen overhandigen op de basisschool Oscar Romero (RVKO) in Rotterdam Crooswijk. En... de laatste van 10 prototype-knuffels, is bezorgd bij het HU-LAB van de Hogeschool Utrecht....
Pitch bij High Tech NL 'Dragons meet robots, IoT en AI'
Eind januari 2021 hebben we Vertelknuffel SamBuddy gepitched bij Dragons meet Robots, IoT en AI in Eindhoven....
Research Social Robotics
De Vertelknuffel wordt inmiddels ook als effectief onderzoeks-product gebruikt door de onderzoeksgroep Social Robotics van de Hogeschool Utrecht....
Twee knuffels overgedragen aan Zorgorganisatie Schakelring/MijZo, Waalwijk
Vandaag 2 prototype Vertelknuffels overgedragen aan Zorgorganisatie Schakelring/MijZo. Wij zijn heel blij dat zij gaan testen of ook ouderen blij worden van deze knuffel...
Eerste Knuffel overgedragen aan Basischool Anne de Vries, Epe
Vandaag is de eerste Vertelknuffel overgedragen aan Basisschool Anne de Vries in Epe in de persoon van initiatiefneemster Joanne Coes.
10 Pilot-Partners
Om dit prototype te vertalen naar een prachtig product, werken we samen met een tiental Pilot-partners die allemaal een prototype hebben aangeschaft....
Startup & Running met de Knuffelfabriek!
Proud to present de VertelKnuffel SamBuddy voor Onderwijs & Zorg! Naast het doel om kinderen makkelijk hun verhaal te laten doen tijdens emotionele momenten, gaat de productie van de knuffel ook werkgelegenheid verschaffen aan mensen met een verstandelijke beperking bij de Knuffelfabriek!
CONTACT
Vertelknuffel BV
+31 (0)6 14 657 653
info@vertelknuffel.nl
i-DEPOT EU: 127111
Benelux Trademark Register: 1486477
Chambre of Commerce: 90517423
Utrecht, The Netherlands
VAT: NL865344516B01
IBAN: NL85ABNA0122801903
ABOUT US
The soft Storytelling Cuddly toy SAMbuddy asks questions and only records answers if the child wants it. The Storytelling Cuddly Toy is patient, offers trust and a listening ear.
It is a tool to improve communication between the child and supervisor/teacher/parent, regardless of time and place.
Make sure that children are heard, even when no one is listening...
