TeamPia VZW

Our Mission

In July 2019, the non-profit organization TeamPia was founded. Its main goal was to raise 2 million euros to give Pia Boehnke the administration with the life-saving drug Zolgensma. When that goal was reached, however, the organisation did not cease to exist. It lobbied hard to include SMA as one of the conditions that would be tested in the newborn screening in Flanders and for reimbursement of Zolgensma by the Belgian government. Both goals were achieved in the fall of 2021. In addition, in recent years, the non-profit organization has been particularly committed to supporting other families who have a child with a neurological disorder: administratively, financially and emotionally. Since the 2019 fundraiser, the organisation's goal has also always been to give something back to society. Thanks to hundreds of thousands of Belgians, Pia could be saved and TeamPia would therefore like to launch its own project that could be a real added value for numerous children, in particular the construction of a fully inclusive playground. We know from our own experience that it is not easy for children with motor or intellectual disabilities to take part in the same play activities as children without disabilities. Playgrounds are usually not adapted to wheelchairs, do not offer a resting place for children with autism spectrum disorder and do not take into account children who are blind or visually impaired. This is something that urgently needs to change. Not only for children with disabilities, but also for those without: social interaction between the two is essential at an early age. This is the only way to create an inclusive society that takes people with disabilities into account and recognizes their value. The VZW Teampia and the city of Lier are therefore joining forces to create a completely new and inclusive playground in Lier. An existing site (Belfortplein) will be completely rebuilt (with new surface) with a playground suitable for all ages and accessible to children with and without physical or mental disabilities. We will try to work with as many ecological materials as possible. We really want to start with a clean slate and build a playground that can entertain as many children as possible: children of all ages, without disabilities and with a cognitive or physical disability. It is not the intention that every child can play with every piece of equipment, but rather that every child can play with something. In addition, we want to make the ground as accessible as possible, so that it is wheelchair friendly, for example. We found an ideal partner in the city of Lier, which attaches great importance to inclusion and is willing to get behind this project. It would also be a first for the province of Antwerp: the first fully inclusive playground.