Fedasil asylum seeker centre-Rixensart

CBB02  FEDASIL  Asylum
seeker centre
Rixensart  27/03 - 09/04
KIDS-SOCI  +18 Y.O.  7

The project

The  Rixensart  Refugees  Centre  accommodates  people  or  families  who  have  asked  for  asylum in Belgium.  Refugees  come  from Syria,  Irak,  Iran,  Congo  etc.  Many  of them  fled  from war  or from countries  that were  under  a dictatorship  or  devastated  by  an  ecological  disaster.  Thus  they came  to Belgium  with dreams  of stability,  richness  and comfort life.  It  is  not,  however,  that  easy to be allowed to settle in Europe, especially for somebody from the South or the East. Before these people may start their new lives, their refugees status has to be proven and accepted. While waiting for  the documents  that  will  enable  them  to remain  legally  in our  country,  the immigrants  are accommodated in this centre in the Brussels vicinity.
People  living  there  await  the solution  concerning  their  administrative  status.  They  never  know what tomorrow may bring to them. There is a possibility that they will not obtain the authorisation to remain in Belgium and will have to leave the country. But on the other hand, they might see their dreams come true and get the chance to take a new start in life.
Therefore,  residents  often  found  themselves  owerhelmed  by  feelings  of relief  and anguish, hope and disappointment. The life of Rixensart Refugees Centre reflects these individual dramas and big international tensions. Refugees often come with their children, who attend the school in the village in order to help their integration in Belgium.
Website (available in English): http://www.fedasil.be

Work

The volunteers will give a hand and a fresh air to the Centre’s animation team – sportive or social games, billiard, movie clubs, fitness for women, football tournament,  craft etc.
To a lesser extent, It will depend of the weather, your team could have some activities as painting inside or outside maintenance of the park They will be required to get actively involved in the daily life of the Centre. Half of the time will be devoted  to proposals  of activities  for  children  and adults  (according  to the population  currently present in the Centre).
The management team of the centre  is  very  well  used  to work with volunteers  as  they  have been hosting this workcamp for several years.

Accommodation

Volunteers  will  be  lodged  in a common  room  (dormitory)  in  a  building  next  to  the  central one. Showers are accessible in a central building.

Food

Meals  will  be  provided  by  the Centre.  Please,  be  aware  that  meals  are  simple.  Vegetarian  or any other diet should be announced in advance.
 
Location

Rixensart  is  located  in the Brabant  Walloon province,  25  km  from Brussels  and 7  km  from Wavre.
The zone is highly urbanised and has all the usual conveniences, although, in the past, it used to be a rural  and agricultural  area.  Thus,  Rixensart  still  keeps  its  countryside  charm  but  one  can  feel the proximity  of Brussels  (40  minutes  by  train,  20  by  car).  Refugees  Centre  is  located  outside the town  centre,  but  in  a  walking  distance  from  the  famous  local  lake  Genval,  cinema,  shops, supermarkets, train station. Website (in French): http://www.rixensart.be

Specific information

The  volunteers  are  required  to be  at least  18  year  old  and to have  basic  knowledge  of French.
They will also have to send us a short motivation letter in French as well as to answer a uestionnaire for the Centre.
Besides, it is necessary to have knowledge of animation (songs, music, dance, plays…) and to be able to assume  responsibility  for  a small  group.  In  addition,  it  is  recommended  that  they  have  an  idea about the policy concerning refugees in their own country, what the public image of the refugees is there,  the place  that  is  assigned  for  them.  Some  of these  issues  might  be  put  on the table  during the evenings. Being able to listen to others is very important there. This kind of workcamp is a very rich  personal  and human  experience.  It  makes  people  aware  of the complexity  of certain  social conditions related to the great inequalities on our planet.
Alcohol is formally prohibited in the Centre.

Meeting point

The 27 th  of march at the Rixensart train station at 3.00pm

Camp language

French

As a rule, kids are quite fluent in French thanks to school; adults take longer time to learn foreign language.  The  languages  used  between  residents  are  very  different  –  French,  Russian, English, German… more than 15 in general and depend on current presence of residents.