JES vzw
JES vzw is a Belgian non-profit founded in 1984 that supports children, teenagers, and young adults in Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent with integrated programs in leisure, education, employment, and well-being, funded primarily by government and EU grants and delivered through regional units, JES Academy, and JES Sleep Inn.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersMolenbeek-saint-jean, Belgium
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What JES vzw does
JES vzw is a Belgian non-profit youth organization (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) founded in 1984 and headquartered at Werkhuizenstraat 3, 1080 Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Brussels. It supports children, teenagers and young adults growing up in the cities of Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent across four integrated tracks: leisure time (vrije tijd), education, employment/training, and well-being. Its service mix spans street work and outreach, media and digital literacy training, educational pathways and career guidance, job coaching, mental well-being support, and participatory urban planning — delivered through regional operating units (JES Antwerpen, JES Brussel, JES Gent), a residential facility (JES Sleep Inn), and a professional training arm (JES Academy).
Underlying its practice is a set of proprietary methodologies and digital tools developed in-house over four decades, including LOMAP (a smartphone participation app for neighborhood feedback), SIM-ME (a screening/intake/matching methodology for dual learning), WERKR8! (a one-page 'business plan' competency tool), and the legacy C-Stick competence tool (discontinued due to GDPR). JES also produces digital engagement products such as the HOLD IT! app (for youth-police dialogue), the Le monde de Mr. Clean climate awareness video game, and the SQUEEZE serious game on online identity. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, with executive direction shared across multiple directors including Els van Effelterre, Liselotte Vanheukelom, and Inge.
JES is funded primarily through government and EU grants — including the European Social Fund, Interreg NWE, the Flemish Government, VGC, Leefmilieu Brussel, and safe.brussels — with services delivered free of charge to youth end users. Notable project funding includes the €1,033,573.51 ESF grant for Future@Work (2021) and ongoing ESF support for Compagnon de Route. Commercial offsets are minor (publications such as 'Gender en de stad' sold at €8, JES Sleep Inn room revenue, JES Academy training fees). The organization sits within a dense coalition network of Flemish youth NGOs, police zones, municipalities, universities, and EU-level policy bodies.
JES vzw firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JES vzw
- Legal name
- JES vzw
- Website
- https://jes.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- JES vzw is a Belgian non-profit founded in 1984 that supports children, teenagers, and young adults in Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghent with integrated programs in leisure, education, employment, and well-being, funded primarily by government and EU grants and delivered through regional units, JES Academy, and JES Sleep Inn.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JES vzw industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting) (EDAJAMAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)
Keywords
Where JES vzw is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Molenbeek-saint-jean
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
JES vzw business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
JES vzw product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JES vzw is a Belgian non-profit youth organization that supports children, teenagers and young adults in Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent across five domains: leisure time, education, training and employment, well-being, and youth voice/participation. It delivers services directly through street work, youth centers, media labs, school programs, and job coaching, complemented by the JES Academy training division and JES Sleep Inn youth accommodation.
Product overview
JES vzw is a youth organization operating across Antwerp, Brussels, and Ghend with a multi-faceted offering including regional youth centers (JES Antwerpen, JES Brussels, JES Gent), training services (JES Academy), and accommodation (JES Sleep Inn). The organization provides youth development through programs in free time, education, work, training, and well-being. Key products include participation tools (LOMAP, PleinPatrons), media services (Medialabo, Open Lab), employment support (Future@Work, Compagnon de Route, Jobclub, WERKR8!), and training courses (Animatorcursus, ZOOM Horeca, DISTRIBYOUTH). The organization also develops specialized methodologies (SIM-ME, C-Stick discontinued) and digital products (HOLD IT! app, Le monde de Mr. Clean video game).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- C-Stick: Digital tool developed by JES in 2007 to support competency-based trajectories for (short-schooled) youth, helping them recognize and list their competencies.
- WERKR8!
- Le Monde de Mr. Clean
- SQUEEZE
- SIM-ME
- LOMAP
- JES Academy
- JES Sleep Inn
Products and services
- JES Academy Professional training and development division offering courses, workshops, talks and walks for professionals working with urban youth — including 'Aan de Slag met Jongeren', 'Competentiegericht Werken', 'Je Kiffe Bruxelles' for police officers, and IPOP training.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% of coached young people find their way to education or training (per JES Brussel)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use JES vzw
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
JES vzw technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
JES vzw partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kras JeugdwerkcoreKras Jeugdwerk is a partner in the Future@Work project together with JES and Gatam. The project targets socially vulnerable youth aged 18-25 in Antwerp who are not reached by existing services.
- Stad AntwerpencoreStad Antwerpen is the co-financier of the Future@Work project alongside ESF funding. The city co-finances job coaching services for Antwerp youth.
- GoodPlanet BelgiumminorPartner in the 'Le monde de Mr. Clean' video game project (part of Cascade), supporting climate awareness in Brussels.
- Les Ambassadeurs d'expression citoyenneminorPartner supporting the 'Le monde de Mr. Clean' climate video game project, contributing to citizen expression for Brussels youth.
- Recyclart vzwminorRecyclart vzw assisted with the renovation of the JES caravan at the Kuregem site, supporting the JES-box transformation project.
- OutdoormoveminorOutdoormove installed outdoor fitness equipment at the JES-box site in Kuregem, part of the green transformation of the space.
- vzw Degré47minorDegré47 worked with JES youth to build the terrace at the JES-box site, contributing to the outdoor transformation of the space.
- OasisminorOasis collaborated with JES on maintaining the planters at the JES-box site and provides horticulture training for JES youth.
- Alba vzwcoreAlba vzw partnered with JES on a dialogue trajectory for the 'Jongeren & Politie' project in Brussels, working to improve relations between youth and police in the South police zone.
- Moderator VzwminorModerator Vzw was engaged as an independent researcher for the 'Jongeren & Politie' project in Antwerp, providing research support alongside Mattias De Backer.
- Mattias De Backer (VUB)minorIndependent researcher Mattias De Backer conducted dialogue trajectory research for the youth-police project in both Brussels and Antwerp, providing academic grounding.
- Politiezone AntwerpencorePartner in the 'Jongeren & Politie' project in Antwerp. Youth work organisations (JES, Formaat, Kras Jeugdwerk, SAAMO) work together with J100 and the police zone's diversity service to improve relations between youth and police.
- Politiezone Zuid (Brussels)corePartner in the Brussels 'Jongeren & Politie' project covering the municipalities of Vorst, Sint-Gillis and Anderlecht. Project coordinated under Pascal Smet's impuls with support from VGC and safe.brussels.
- Forum des JeunescoreForum des Jeunes partnered with JES on the 'Jeugd in Actie' youth climate participation project, conducting its own survey and workshop series with French-speaking Brussels youth and producing a supplementary report.
- RecyclartminorPartner in the 'Gender en de stad: Les filles (ne) traînent (pas)' publication. Daï-Linh Nguyên from Recyclart contributed an essay to the book on gender and public space.
- L'Architecture qui dégenreminorAnnabelle Hoffait from L'Architecture qui dégenre contributed an interview and perspective to the 'Gender en de stad' publication.
- Kind en SamenlevingminorSabine Miedema from Kind en Samenleving provided a response piece in the 'Gender en de stad' publication.
- VUBminorMattias de Backer from VUB contributed to the 'Gender en de stad' publication. The university also collaborates on youth-police research.
- StampmediaminorStampmedia is a partner in amplifying the voice of urban youth in public opinion, with JES seeking to advance youth spokespersonship together with them.
- ZijkantminorJulie Van Garsse from Zijkant contributed to the 'Gender en de stad' publication and is involved in the Girls Make The City workshop at the congress.
- UCLLminorUCLL initiated the KIWI (Krachtgerichte en Inclusieve Werkomgeving) transnational ESF project. JES participated, focusing on internal challenges related to process and product development.
- Formaat vzwcorePartner in the 'Jongeren & Politie' project in Antwerp alongside JES, Kras Jeugdwerk, SAAMO and J100, working with Politiezone Antwerpen.
- SAAMOcorePartner in the 'Jongeren & Politie' project in Antwerp alongside JES, Formaat, Kras Jeugdwerk and J100, working with Politiezone Antwerpen.
- Brussel LeefmilieuminorPartner in the Ninoofsepoort neighbourhood participation project, collaborating to shape the new park at the Ninoofsepoort through workshops and activities.
- J100coreJ100 is a collective of Antwerp youth organisations (including JES, Formaat, Kras Jeugdwerk, SAAMO) working to strengthen the position of youth in the city by giving them a voice and facilitating dialogue.
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
JES vzw competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Formaat vzw: Flemish youth work organization that partners with JES in the Jongeren & Politie project and the J100 Antwerp youth collective. Operates comparable outreach, participation, and policy-influencing programs for Flemish youth.
- J100: Collective of Antwerp youth organizations (JES, Formaat, Kras Jeugdwerk, SAAMO) that coordinates voice and policy influence for Antwerp youth. JES is a core member, making J100 both a peer platform and a coalition partner.
- Uit De Marge: Flemish organization advocating for and supporting marginalized youth, with overlapping street work, education support, and policy advocacy activities in Flemish cities. Comparable mission around socially vulnerable urban youth.
- Groep Intro: Flemish organization for vulnerable youth that collaborated with JES on the ESF-funded IPOP project (2010-2012) researching initial-phase youth guidance. Comparable direct-service delivery and vulnerable-youth focus.
- Alba vzw: Brussels-based organization partnering with JES on the Jongeren & Politie dialogue trajectories in the Brussels South police zone. Comparable youth-and-authority dialogue methodology and Brussels footprint.
- Awel: Flemish youth helpline providing anonymous support, listening, and referral for children and young people. Comparable child-and-youth well-being service with regional Flemish coverage and partly overlapping target group.
- CDV Aura: Flemish training organization that collaborated with JES, Arktos, Groep Intro, De Foyer and LEJO on the ESF IPOP project researching initial-phase youth guidance. Comparable youth-work training and methodology development.
- SAAMO (Stichting Antwerpse Allochtone Marokkaanse Ondernemers en andere) - actually Strategisch Advies Antwerps Middenveld en Omgeving: Antwerp-based umbrella for organizations working with marginalized urban populations; co-leads the J100 collective and Jongeren & Politie project with JES. Comparable outreach methodology and policy advocacy focus.
- Kras Jeugdwerk: Flemish youth work organization co-developing the Future@Work jobcoaching project with JES for socially vulnerable Antwerp youth aged 18-25, and a partner in the Jongeren & Politie project. Directly comparable mission and target population.
Broad incumbents
- CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk): Broader Flemish network of welfare centers providing social, legal, psychological, and material aid across all life domains including youth. Larger and more generalist than JES, but operates in the same Flemish social-services ecosystem and partially overlapping target groups.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
JES vzw social profiles
Digital presenceJES vzw financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JES vzw leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
JES vzw subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
JES vzw funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JES vzw M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about JES vzw
What does JES vzw do?
JES vzw is a Belgian non-profit youth organization that supports children, teenagers and young adults in Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent across five domains: leisure time, education, training and employment, well-being, and youth voice/participation. It delivers services directly through street work, youth centers, media labs, school programs, and job coaching, complemented by the JES Academy training division and JES Sleep Inn youth accommodation.
Is JES vzw a public or private company?
JES vzw is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was JES vzw founded?
JES vzw was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is JES vzw based?
JES vzw is headquartered in Molenbeek-saint-jean, Belgium, in the Europe region.
Who are JES vzw's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Formaat vzw, J100, Uit De Marge, Groep Intro, Alba vzw, Awel, CDV Aura, SAAMO (Stichting Antwerpse Allochtone Marokkaanse Ondernemers en andere) - actually Strategisch Advies Antwerps Middenveld en Omgeving and Kras Jeugdwerk. CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does JES vzw have an API?
No public API is recorded for JES vzw.
What industry is JES vzw in?
JES vzw's product category is Youth Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAMAJ, Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting), with a secondary code of EDAJAIAJ, Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento). Its NAICS code is 62411 and its SIC code is 8351.