BRUSSELS PRESENTATION

The following text is an adaptation of the transcription of the audio CDs of the Conference 2005.

From Brussels there have been present: Mr. François Lourtie, Responsible for youth from the Belgian Francophone League of Human Rights and Ms. Catherine Godefroid, Co-ordinator of the European Program “European Year of Citizens by means of Education” from the Ministry of the French Community.

The representatives of Brussels mentioned three problem fields, as initially proposed for the conference preparation:

• Equal education chances: There are still differences between boys and girls.
• Culture problem: Cultural manifestations are often much too expensive for young people. There is no participation in the social-cultural life out of financial reasons. Another problem presents the fact that the culture of migrants is strongly under-represented.
• Problem of housing, of unemployment and of racist discrimination: These are the main factors that lead to a “positive discrimination” in schools.

The example of the French Community proves that social evils can be improved, provided that there is a political will. It tries to organize a sort of central information management (e.g. compiling data basis) in order to improve a sound and Land wide communication about commonplaces, like the issue of citizens, of environment and of the north-south co-operation, or in some cases even to enable it, in particular.

NGOs, schools and associations can gain a quick overview thanks to this central place and can research according to the main focus of their interest. The work of the French Community creates therefore the basis for a competent and dynamic social communication.

Mr. Lourtie presented a project that the Belgian Francophone League of Human Rights has run in co-operation with two schools during the last year.

Out of this mainly politically motivated youth project that dealt with the issue of the “involved and engaged citizens” resulted another three-day-meeting between nine schools of Brussels, where they used the “Compass” actively, as an instrument.

The Belgian Francophone League of Human Rights is primarily a pulse generator, as Mr. Lourtie stressed. All projects of the League of Human Rights help towards a political shaping of the public opinion. Instead of offering defined answers, we speak here more about the bringing about of the problem awareness. The aim consists mainly in promoting the democratic basic competence of the discourse capability of all participants.

In conclusion the representatives of the Belgian Delegation talked about the situation of the national and international partnerships in Brussels. There is indeed no direct partnership with the French Community at the moment, still there are selected organizations and associations that get financial support. The co-operation with NGOs has been laudably mentioned. The co-operation willingness and the effective co-operation are exemplary.

The Trainer Pascal Hildebert is French; he lives in Brussels and has been working as a freelance trainer for three years.

Fields of possible cooperation: Participation ideas