The education of gifted youngsters stretches far beyond the limits of schools. Education is not all about grades and diplomas; it’s about providing guidance in the development of youngsters. The youngster’s passions and talents should be central in shaping his future. Moreover, the psychosocial development of gifted children and youngsters is often neglected by regular primary and high school education. The gifted youth peer community we name SquibS is founded precisely for these reasons. Together with talented youngsters (starting from age 11), SquibS organizes a large amount of activities and events a year intended to help the psychosocial development of these talents. SquibS gives gifted youngsters the opportunity to meet and interact with their gifted peers. SquibS provides the perfect socially ‘safe’ environment for the talent of these youngsters to blossom in. In the process these youngsters are guided by an ECHA specialist in gifted education.

A few of examples of SquibS’ activities with youngsters: SquibS survival, peer-contact weekends, developing presentations on giftedness, yearly city trips, creative labs at the Dutch ministry of education, culture and science, a exploration trip to Beijing, visiting the European parliament and many more. Some of these activities are solely intended for the psychosocial development of the squibS participants. Other activities have the intention to provide a framework for these youngsters to explore, not only their own opportunities, but also to explore the opportunities of interaction with involved groups such as the ministry of Education. It is the aim of SquibS to provide such a framework in which the youngsters have the perfect environment to broaden their horizons. In the process, it is the intention of SquibS to present ‘Giftedness’ as a positive contribution to society, by means of generating more knowledge and understanding of ‘Giftedness’ in the education system and society in general.