ESC: inclEUsive Youth

Briek vzw is the overarching organization of Briek Vrije Tijd & BriekaBrak. The main objective of Briek VZW is to organize activities for young people and adults with a mental disability. BriekaBrak is our youth department. We offer activities, workshops, education and excursions for young people from 12 - 35 years old with a mental disability. This part of our organization is in cooperation with the city of Ostend. Briek Vrije Tijd is our adult department. People with a disability from 16 years are welcome for activities, education, sport and excursions. We focus on inclusion. All our activities take place on location, usually in the city center of Ostend, but we also go to further places e.g. visit a city, a holiday, ... Cooperation in the society is our main goal. For example our football club is in cooperation with the local footballclub, we play at the same fields, play in the same colours, we use the name KV Oostende, ... We want to stimulate social interaction. In this way our participants get to know the city, the people and the environment. At the same time people of the local environment learn to interact with people with a disability. We offer a variety of workshops and activities. Going from multiple sports and art-workshops to cultural daytrips and (youth) vacations. All of our workshops and activities are supported by professional coaches and volunteers. All of our activities are affordable. Our vision is to focus on the living environment, abilities and talents of our participants. For example: offer a social media training, organize a game night, going to a music festival, ... When there is a local event, we participate as much as possible e.g. Theater event, workshops at Mu-zee-um, ... Briek gives participants the opportunity to spend time away from their everyday responsibilities, make social contacts and enjoy life, in a way which is possible for them. Our staff includes 4 fulltime workers. Additionally there are different students and volunteers. Our employees are young and motivated and still learn by professional training and experiences.