📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The centre for asylum seekers in Nonceveux is one of the reception center managed by the Red Cross in Belgium. Asylum seekers come from 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 centre “L’Amblève” - from the river along the centre - can host up to 218 residents. The centre hosts different kind of family situations: families, childless couples but mostly isolated persons and 33 unaccompanied minors.
The infrastructure of the centre enables it to have, beside the usual accommodation facilities, some convivial areas such as a refectory, a library, TV lounges, a games library, a sports hall,...
💼 What the programme involves
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 blast of fresh air to the residents of the centre.
Volunteers will be asked to propose and organise activities for the different kind of persons living there: activities and workshop for kids and/or adults, sport, “world meal”, evenings, …
They will also have the opportunity to take part in the daily life of the centre through meetings and awareness raising moments with the staff in order to understand the daily work of such a place.
They might also participate in some manual work such as sorting clothes donation or maintenance tasks of the buildings.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will sleep in a big room which will be turned into a mixed dormitory. Showers and toilets will be available.
Volunteers will have their meals in the restaurant of the centre with the residents.
If you have a special diet, please let us know in advance.
📍 About the location
Nonceveux is a small village in the province of Liège, in Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium. It is about 30 minutes away from the city of Liège. The centre is located along a river, “l’Amblève”, and is surrounded by green hills. The centre is very isolated and there is very limited access to public transports.
ℹ️ Additional 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.
Volunteers will have to respect the centre’s regulations. Alcohol is strictly prohibited inside the centre.
A project-related motivation letter is required.