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 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, SSVI provides a significant number of BRESSER 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 until 2024, 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 is also a partnership with Beamline for Schools, a project Powered by CERN.
Since 2022 partnership with Younivers. (Societè Astronomque de France)
Since 2023: partnership with Physics in Advent, Univ. Goettingen (Germany)
In 2025: partnership with International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC)

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

An SSVI telescope in Bangladesh with Team Cosmos Army Banglasesh: one of the winners Outreach Proposal Prizes Beamline for Schools 2024

win an SSVI telescope in 2025

BEAMLINE FOR SCHOOLS

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.

Win a Telescope & Share the Wonders of the Night Sky!

SSVI provides 15 BRESSER 80/640 NANO telescopes, signed by 5 Nobelprize Laureats, DG of CERN Fabiola Gianotti and the BL4S organizing team. as special Outreach prizes.

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

CHALLENGE VIDEO ASTRO-ADOS DE LA FRANCOPHONIE 2025

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

Le 4ème challenge vidéo astro-ados Younivers de la francophonie est lancé ! Voir ici comment participer. (French speaking countries only)

PHHYSICS IN ADVENT

PiA® – Physics in Advent is an Advent calendar with a difference: a physics Advent calendar. It enables us to present 24 small, simple experiments and physics mysteries to young researchers and anybody who enjoys things like this. Their aim is to awaken your interest in doing experiments yourself or to make it exciting to watch them.

In 2015, “PiA® - Physics in Advent” was presented as a MINT-DIY project and won second place in the innovation prize awarded by Göttingen rural district council.

SSVI provide 3 BRESSER Nano 70/700 telescopes to this competition

IAAC

The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition is an educational science competition that enables students from all countries to test their skills in astronomy and astrophysics.

SSVI provide this year elescopes signed by astronaut Frank De Winne and Nobel Prize laureates François Englert, Gerard 't Hooft, Michel Mayor, and Didier Queloz

Additional initiatives will be announced on this page throughout 2024.

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