📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The centre for asylum seekers of Yvoir is part of the Red Cross network of reception centres in Belgium. Residents come from Palestine, Afghanistan, Irak, Syria, … They already asked for asylum to the Belgian authorities and they are hosted in this centre for the duration of the procedure. They had to leave their country for diverse reasons such as forced marriage, war, persecution for religious reasons, for their sexual orientation or their political opinions. A lot of them are separated from their family devoid of any way place to live or resources.
The Red Cross is mandated by the Belgian authorities to host asylum seekers in respect of its humanitarian principles, its independence and its neutrality.
This kind of centres provides:
• Housing and food
• Basic hygiene package
• Support during the asylum procedure and social monitoring
• Medical assistance
• Mandatory education for minors
• Cultural and sport activities
The centre “Le Bocq”, which takes its name from the nearby river, can house up to 300 persons with all kinds of family situation: couples, isolated persons, families and unaccompanied foreign minors.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteers will be involved in 2 main projects:
- Creation and artistic realization for the living spaces of the Center in the morning;
- Meeting and exchange between international volunteers and residents through recreational and cultural activities internal or external to the center or during animation / sports activities during the afternoon
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will sleep in a big room which will be turned into a mixed dormitory.
Please bring a sleeping bag.
Volunteers, as residents, will get points on a badge which will give them access and allow them to buy groceries at the centre’s minimarket. They will then cook their meals themselves in one of the common kitchen.
📍 About the location
Yvoir is a small village located in the province of Namur in Wallonia, the southern French-speaking region of Belgium. It is 20 km away from Namur, capital city of Wallonia. The centre is bordered by a river (le Bocq) and greeny hills.
Be aware that it is a remote area with poor public transports connections. The nearest train station is 3.5 km away.
ℹ️ Additional information
It is asked to the volunteers to have a specific interest in migration and working with asylum seekers. Knowledge and/or will to facilitate activities with the residents are very much welcome.
Volunteers will have to respect the internal regulations of the centre such as the strict alcohol-free policy.
A motivation letter related to this project is asked.