Here are sample projects we do regularly:
Missionaries of Charity
Every day nuns in Mother Theresaʼs order prepare a meal and serve the poor. Serve the City volunteers started simply helping with the meals, but discovered other needs along the way.
We still peel potatoes and wash dishes, but now we also help with practical projects like re-painting their facilities.
Le Petit Chateau
The largest refugee center in Belgium, Le Petit Chateau is home to as many as 800 refugees. Serving possibilities are endless. Serve the City teams play with children, teach dance, cut hair, and lead sports camps. Serve the City volunteers go to Le Petit Chateau on a regular basis.
Foyer Selah
Foyer Selah is home to more than 90 refugees from all over the world who have applied in Belgium for asylum. While their case is being considered, all they have are accommodations and a few euros a week. They have many needs, not the least of which is hope. Serve the City volunteers visit Foyer Selah regularly to play football, cut hair, teach English, and do crafts. Now Foyer Selah residents join Serve the City as volunteers.
Anker
Anker is an organization for elderly and asylum seekers. For asylum seekers, Anker meets needs by providing information, food, use of computers, and more. For the elderly, Anker serves food for a small price, makes conversation, and plays games. Anker even has its own football club!
Some volunteer activities at Anker include painting, cleaning, cooking and giving computer lessons, in addition to simply spending time together and talking.
Almagic
While trying to help disabled people make progress in their areas of limitation, a physical therapist discovered that no special bikes were available anywhere in Brussels. So he started purchasing them himself and began an association that invites people with disabilities and their families to the park to get some exercise. Serve the City volunteers help Almagic help people with disabilities to have some fun.
Hi,
I am interested in volunteering at Foyer Selah, particularly to teach English to the refugees. Is there any way I can get involved?
Hi Antonia,
Thats fantastic! We have events running all week at Foyer Selah during our big volunteer week, and also during each of our event days (Splash! etc). The best way to stay connected is via our mailing list. You can sign up for it online, and get all the latest information about our upcoming events.
Hope that helps!
Ben
Madame,Monsieur,
Bonjour.
Je félicite votre organisme pour l’initiative de volontariat.Veuillez me tenir informer des prochaines activités,s’il vous plait.
Merci pour vos aimables paroles.
Si vous vous inscrivez à notre liste de diffusion via notre page d’accueil nous vous tiendrons informés.
i can help you in what ever you need i can`t cut hair but i can play football o help teaching inglish i don`t know i don`t have problems with the potatoes and washing dishes i just need serve people ho need its please let me know in what i can help I`m really insterted
Hi Rafael,
Some of the projects that are occurring regularly right now are AB3 and Gare du Nord. At AB3, a squat where asylum seekers are living, we play with children and get to know the people who are living there for an hour or two on Wednesday evenings. At Gare du Nord, we serve soup and coffee to the refugees who are living in the train station every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening. We also have conversations and form friendships with the people we are serving. You can get more details about these projects and others by emailing info@servethecity.be. I hope that helps!
Lindsey
Deep thought! Thanks for corntbiuting.
Hi I am very interested in volunteering with your organisation. I have extensive experience of working within centres accomodating asylum seekers but would also be interested in working within the other communities. Unfortunately I can not access the events page on your website and would be very grateful if you could inform me of any forthcoming events.
Hi Clio,
Thank you for your interest in volunteering! We’re working on getting the Events section of our website updated, but you can also email thisweek@servethecity.be to receive details about what projects are happening each week. Some of our regular projects include serving soup and coffee to asylum seekers who live at Gare du Nord on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 18:30, and playing with children of asylum seekers at a squat near Botanique on Wednesdays at 18:30.