- PARTNER:
The centre for asylum seekers in Fraipont is one of the reception centres managed by the Red Cross in Belgium. Asylum seekers come from Afghanistan, the Balkans, Eritrea, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and other parts of the world. They left their country for different reasons such as forced marriage, war, persecution due to religion, sexual orientation or political opinion. Many of them were separated from their family, and they found themselves without any resource or shelter. The Red Cross is mandated by the government for the reception of asylum seekers, and its work in this area adheres to its principles of humanity, independence and neutrality.
The centres provide the following services...
- accommodation and food
- necessary hygienic means
- support and monitoring on the asylum procedure and social support
- medical support
- compulsory education for minors
- cultural and sports activities
The Red Cross Centre for asylum seekers “Le Merisier” can host up to 305 residents. The centre hosts families, isolated persons and 50 unaccompanied minors.
The infrastructure of the centre enable it to have, beside the usual accommodation facilities, some convivial areas such as a meeting-place, a cinema room, a refectory, a games library, a sports hall, a football and a volleyball field,...
- WORK :
The aim of this workcamp is not only to raise volunteers' awareness about migration issues and enable them to have a personal approach to this topic, but also to bring a breath of fresh air to the residents of the centre.
Volunteers will take part in the community life of the centre and their tasks will mainly consist of some renovation works within the centre but also the organisation of entertainment activities for residents.
Diverse renovation works will be carried out together with the technical team of the centre (for instance: renovation of some bedrooms, interior and exterior design, painting, rehabilitation of a wood path, gardening, flower beds maintenance,...).
Activities for the residents organized with the workers in order to understand better the way the centre works.
Examples of activities -
- Sport competitions (badminton, indoor football, etc)
- Cooking activity
- - Entertainment activities for adults:
board games, film club (depending of volunteers' initiatives)
- Support to the games library
- After school homework help programme (for children and teenagers of the centre)
- Walks in the woods
- ACCOMMODATION:
Volunteers will sleep in chalets of the centre. Showers and toilets will be provided.
- FOOD:
Volunteers will have their meals in the restaurant of the centre with the residents.
- LOCATION :
Fraipont is a small village in the province of Liège, in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium. The village is located on a hill, about 30 minutes away from the city of Liège. The centre is surrounded by woods and fields. A train and a bus stop in Nessonvaux, a village located 20 minutes away by foot from the centre.
- SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
Volunteers are asked to prove a certain interest for the topic of migration and to be willing to interact with asylum seekers. Experience in animation (games, song, entertainment activities, dance...) will be appreciated.
- NB:
A project-related motivation letter is required.
Volunteers will have to respect the regulations of the centre. Alcohol is formally prohibited in the centre.
- LANGUAGES:
The language of the workcamp is English. Basics of French are useful but not necessary.
- TERMINAL:
Brussels International Airport (Zaventem) or Brussels South Airport (Charleroi), meeting point at Nessonvaux train station on 01/04. Train timetables on www.belgianrail.be/en/
