Sterren Schitteren Voor Iedereen (Stars Shine For Everyone)
An Astronomy Project for children with disabilities and underserved communities around the world

Stars Shine for everyone Project 'Sterren Schitteren Voor Iedereen-SSVI) is realised by the Amateur Telescope Making group (Kijkerbouw) Volkssterrenwacht A.Pien vzw and facilitated through Ghent University dept. Physics and Astronomy.
”All children in special education and vulnerable people should have the opportunity to admire the starry sky with the help of a telescope.” This is the starting point of the founder of the project Jean-Pierre Grootaerd.

Belgian astronauts DIRK FRIMOUT and FRANK DE WINNE parented the project SSVI and Science 4 Girls..
The project is present in over 172 countries across all continents.

To this project, BRESSER donates a significant number of telescopes each year. Traditionally, these are Bresser Messier 90/900, 70/700 and 80/640 refractors equipped with solar filter and eyepieces. Rob Walrecht Productions provides extra educational materials.

During the IAU100 celebration year 2019, SSVI was allowed to have an important place. Two competitions were held where you can see the results here;
Winners competition 100 years IAU and Winners IAU contest 50 years moon landing

In 2020 and 2021, SSVI became a partner of IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. A contest 'Telescopes For All' was held where 30 telescopes with accessories were distributed.
Winners of the contests.

Since 2020, there has also been a partnership with L'Astronomie Afrique and RFI l' émission Autour de la Question.

Since 2021, there ia also a partnership with Beamline for Schools, a project Powerd by CERN.

SSVI in a Box BIY telescopes: 70/420 Newtonian with BRESSER Eyepiece, Solar filter and viewfinder

BRESSER Solarix 76/350 Newtonian telescopes on SSVI in a Box assembly. With BRESSER eyepieces and solar filter.

Bresser 80/640 telescope signed by Nobelprize Laureat Physics 2013 François Englert

win an SSVI telescope in 2024

TELESCOPES FOR ALL

This contest is a organized by the International Astronomical UnionTelescopes for All this year took on a new format: instead of providing ready-built telescopes, Stars Shine for Everyone (Sterren Schitteren voor Iedereen, SSVI) led the NOCs National Outreach Coordinators) in a workshop describing how to build their own telescopes. After completing the body, SSVI supplied the optics, BRESSSER Eyepieces and viewfinders. This project gives NOCs the skills they need to sustainably spread astronomy throughout their communities without relying on expensive resources..

CONTEST L'ASTRONOMIE AFRIQUE

Every trimester, L'Astronomie Afrique in collaboration with RFI émission Autour de la question organizes a competition in which each time an BRESSER Messier 90/900 SSVI telescope can be won. Rules you can find here; Jeu Concours

WOMEN AND GIRLS IN ASTRONOMY

Women and Girls in Astronomy project supports events that recognise the role of all women in advancing science and encourages everyone on and off the gender spectrum to consider careers in astronomy. SSVI provides 5 BRESSER 76/350 Solarix telescopes on SSVI assemby.

CHALLENGE VIDEO ASTRO-ADOS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 2024

SSVI provide 10 BRESSER Nano 70/700 refractors to this contest.

'BEAMLINE FOR SCHOOLS' (Powered by CERN and DESY)

Beamline for Schools is a physics competition organized by CERN that invites teams of high-school students from all over the world to prepare the proposal for an experiment that can be performed at a particle accelerator test beam facility.
SSVI provides 13 BRESSER 80/640 NANO telescopes, signed by 3 Nobelprize Laureats, DG of CERN Fabiola Gianotti and the BL4S organizing team. as special prizes. Winners of this countest on this website.

1OO HOURS OF ASTRONOMY

This contest will be organised Autumn 2024 by IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach in partnership with SSVI. SSVI provides 5 BRESSER 76/350 Solarix telescopes on SSVI assembly. Contest rules follows!

Additional initiatives will be announced on this page throughout 2024.

Album Overview Telescopes for All

All telescopes are intended for groups: astronomy outreach in the spirit of the Telescopes for All - SSVI project. Not for exclusive private use'