At i-spark, we have believed from the very beginning that data has the power to drive lasting change, provided we handle it with purpose, integrity, and empathy. For nine years, we have worked with organizations across diverse sectors to bring clarity to complex challenges. Some projects challenge us technically. Others inspire us on a deeply human level. And a few, like our collaboration with Stichting (Gelijk)waardig Herstel (SGH), do both.
Stichting (Gelijk)waardig Herstel
SGH is a foundation by and for parents affected by the childcare benefits scandal. They commit to restoring trust and dignity to the thousands of families who were unjustly harmed by one of the biggest social scandals in recent Dutch history.
Between 2013 and 2019, thousands of parents were wrongly accused of fraud with childcare benefits. Many were forced to repay enormous sums. As a result of these false accusations, they lost their jobs, their homes, and in some cases even their children. The emotional impact has been profound. Lives were turned upside down, trust in government institutions was severely damaged, and for many, recovery is still slow and difficult to achieve.
In the aftermath of this crisis, public awareness grew and political accountability followed, including the resignation of the Dutch cabinet in 2021. More importantly, it underscored the urgent need for broader reforms in how the government wants to handle data, AI, and automated systems. Since then, the priority has been to put human dignity back at the centre of public services. The scandal became a wake-up call about the risks that arise when we are guided more by systems than by humanity.
SGH emerged as a deeply human response to this. Instead of imposing yet another top-down system for additional compensation, the foundation offers a people-centred recovery method rooted in listening, recognition and justice. Parents are given the opportunity to share their story with a volunteer from society, working together to create a Feitenrelaas (Statement of Facts) that serves as the basis for emotional, financial, and social recovery. This method puts people, not bureaucracy, at the forefront.
The Listening Writers
SGH works with trained volunteers from all over society who truly take the time to listen to affected parents (called “Vertellers”). These Listening Writers conduct personal conversations guided by the SGH Gespreksleidraad©, mapping out what life looked like before the benefits scandal, what happened afterwards, and how the parents view their future. Based on this Feitenrelaas, independent damage analysts prepare a fair proposal, using a carefully developed recovery model.
Ethically responsible data structure
To execute this approach on a large scale, SGH needed more than just dedication and policy; it required a solid, ethically responsible data structure. That is where i-spark comes in. Since the summer of 2025, we have been working closely with SGH on developing and implementing an integrated data strategy, a scalable data platform, and a reliable dashboarding solution. This approach ensures that SGH can continue to carry out its processes in a scalable, transparent, and above all, human-centred way.
Our team is building a structure that helps SGH collect, organise, analyse, and apply data in a way that both strengthens internal workflows and supports external accountability. With a robust data strategy, SGH can track how processes run, identify where extra support is needed, and how resources can be allocated with care and precision.
In this collaboration, we bring our familiar triangle: people, technology and process. That means: starting with listening. Prioritising accessibility and clarity. And designing a strategy that fits the practical reality of SGH’s mission. We focus on reducing operational friction so that the SGH team can keep concentrating on what truly matters: guiding people through their recovery.
What makes this collaboration extra special to us is the sense of involvement it has sparked within our team. Everyone at i-spark involved in this project truly feels the value of the method and work of SGH. There is a shared awareness that our work here is not only technical but also socially significant.
Ethical data consultancy
We believe that ethical data consultancy is not just about compliance, but also about meaning. This collaboration is a powerful example of the kind of work we want to keep doing as i-spark: where impact is measured in speed and effectiveness, but above all in social justice.
Want to learn more about the role of the Listening Writer? Visit Stichting (Gelijk)waardig Herstel’s website for more information: https://www.gelijkwaardigherstel.nl/luisterend-schrijvers
—-
Is your organisation looking for a data partner who understands responsibility and works with both expertise and compassion? We would love to connect. At i-spark, we help you use data not only for efficiency, but also for trust, transparency, and meaningful change in society.
