What BIZONvzw does

Bizon vzw is a Belgian non-profit youth organization headquartered in Ghent that organizes subsidized vacation camps for children and young people aged 7 to 21 living in socially vulnerable situations across Flanders and Brussels. Its core product is a portfolio of camp formats — tent camps, castle camps, themed camps, boat camps, and international camps — delivered during summer, autumn, and Christmas holidays via a volunteer-staffed model in which approximately 150 volunteers engage annually and a small paid secretariat of 8 staff coordinates policy, logistics, training, and administration. The organization targets a clearly defined niche: youth in facilities, under judicial supervision, asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and families experiencing financial or social difficulties, with camps designed to reduce social isolation and provide accessible leisure at a fully subsidized rate.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid non-profit model combining participant fees (€25 per day with a sliding scale of 25-125% of full price), tax-deductible donations (45% deduction on gifts of €40 or more via FOD Financiën status), subsidies from the Flemish Government, equipment rental to other youth organizations, and a fee-for-service external training line (€150-€250 per session) that commercializes Bizon's pedagogical expertise in 'new authority' and 'non-violent resistance' approaches. Distribution is direct, through an online registration platform (KampAdmin) and partnerships with youth services, schools, and referral platforms such as 'Iedereen Verdient Vakantie'. The technology stack is intentionally minimal: standard web analytics, registration tooling, and branded promotional materials, with no proprietary platform or AI/ML components. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors with a four-person secretariat handling day-to-day operations.

Name

BIZONvzw

Legal name

Bizon vzw

Website

https://bizonvzw.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bizon vzw is a Belgian non-profit in Ghent that organizes subsidized vacation camps for socially vulnerable children and youth aged 7-21 across Flanders and Brussels, delivered by a four-person secretariat and roughly 150 annual volunteers and funded through participant fees, donations, and government subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Social Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO)

Keywords

• Youth vacation camps
• Social youth work
• Volunteer youth training
• Nonprofit youth services
• Equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Gent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Camp participation fees: Participants pay a subsidized camp fee of €25 per day, with a sliding scale discount system allowing participants to pay 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, or 125% of the full price, making camps accessible to financially vulnerable families.
2. Donations and gifts: Bizon accepts financial donations from individuals and organizations. Donations of €40 or more qualify for a tax certificate (fiscaal attest), providing a 45% tax deduction for donors in Belgium.
3. Government subsidies: Bizon receives government funding from Flemish authorities to support its mission of organizing camps for socially vulnerable youth.
4. Material rental revenue: Bizon rents out its accumulated camp equipment (tents, electronics, kitchen supplies, etc.) to other youth organizations and individuals for a fee, with free rental for experienced Bizon volunteers.
5. External training sessions: Bizon delivers external training sessions to youth organizations on topics such as conflict prevention, behavior management, and group processes, charging €150-250 per session depending on the client's financial situation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bizon vzw organizes subsidized vacation camps for children and young people aged 7–21 in socially vulnerable situations across Belgium, on a per-day fee of €25 with a 25%–125% sliding scale based on financial situation. The broader portfolio includes Animator and Head Animator training courses for volunteers, paid external training sessions for other youth organizations, and rental of camp equipment (tents, electronics, kitchen gear) to youth groups.

Product overview

BIZONvzw is a youth organization offering vacation camps for children and young people (ages 7–21) in socially vulnerable situations, supported by a volunteer workforce of approximately 150 people. The core product is the camp program, which includes diverse formats such as tent camps (4Sjor, Weidekampen), castle camps (Dalhem), themed camps (Stitch), boat camps, and international camps. The organization supplements its camp offering with three training products: an Animator Course for new volunteers (50 hours plus internship for official certification), a Head Animator Course for experienced volunteers (advanced leadership training), and External Training sessions delivered on-site to other youth organizations covering conflict prevention, behavioral characteristics, and group processes. Additionally, BIZONvzw operates an equipment rental service offering tents, electronics, kitchen gear, and trailers to external youth organizations, free of charge for BIZON volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vacation Camps (Vakantiekampen) Subsidized vacation camps for children and young people aged 7–21 in socially vulnerable situations, including tent camps, castle camps, themed camps, boat camps, and international camps, with activities such as hiking, swimming, biking, and group games. Camps run during summer, autumn, and Christmas holidays in Flanders, Wallonia, and abroad, priced at €25/day with a sliding scale (25%–125% of base).
• Animator Course (Animcursus) A week-long training course (50 hours) preparing participants to animate children and youth, with topics including sports, games, first aid, expression, hiking, adventure techniques, and team building, focused on working with socially vulnerable youth. Completion plus 50 hours of internship leads to an official animator certificate in youth work. Priced at €150 inclusive of food, the Bizon pedagogical book, accommodation, and instruction.
• Head Animator Course (Hoofdanimatorcursus) Advanced leadership training course for experienced volunteers, covering camp leadership, coaching, and organizational skills. Participants must hold an animator certificate or have 100 hours of youth work experience. Completion requires 50 hours of coursework plus 50 hours of internship, leading to an official head animator certificate.
• External Training (Externe Vorming) On-site training sessions delivered by Bizon for external youth organizations, schools, and services on topics including conflict prevention, non-violent resistance for challenging behavior, behavioral characteristics of vulnerable youth, and group processes. Priced at €150 (social rate), €200 (base rate), or €250 (support rate), plus travel costs.
• Equipment Rental (Materiaalverhuur) Rental of camping equipment (tents, sound systems, projectors, kitchen equipment, sleeping bags, grills, trailers, etc.) to youth organizations and individuals, with rates varying by item and duration. Free rental is provided to experienced Bizon volunteers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces social isolation experienced by vulnerable children and youth through group camp experiences

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vlaanderen (Flemish Government)coreOthersThe Flemish Government provides subsidies and recognition to Bizon as a youth organization. The logo of Vlaanderen and the specific logo for 'Vlaanderen - cultuur, jeugd & media' appear on Bizon's partner page, indicating official government support.
• Iedereen Verdient Vakantie (Everyone Deserves Vacation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIedereen Verdient Vakantie is a partner organization that helps connect financially vulnerable families with vacation opportunities. Bizon's camps can be booked through this platform, expanding access to Bizon's services for the target demographic.
• KindergelukminorOthersKindergeluk is listed as a partner on Bizon's partner page. The specific nature of the partnership is not detailed but appears on the official partners listing.
• AG InsuranceminorOthersAG Insurance appears as a partner on Bizon's partner page, potentially providing insurance coverage for camp activities or as a financial supporter.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bizonvzw
• Instagraminstagram.com/bizonvzw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bizon-vzw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIZONvzw