Meeting the World. The life in an asylum seekers C..
Meeting the World. The life in an asylum seekers Center
Start date: Sep 1, 2016,
End date: Sep 30, 2017
PROJECT
FINISHED
The arrival center for asylum-seekers "Belle-Vue" (Belgian Red-Cross) is located in Eupen in the German speaking community, near the German border. The Belle-Vue house accommodates 100 inhabitants of different cultures, nationalities and religions while asking for asylum. The center is managed by the Belgian Red Cross, all over the world well-known for its humanitarian commitment. The 7 principles of the Red-Cross are the follows: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntariness, Unity and Universality. Since 1th December 1989 the Belgian Red Cross has been commissioned by the Federal state to take an active part in asylum-seekers reception.The Red Cross tasks consist in the administration of the house as well as welcoming and accompaniment of refugees in their difficult life situation. The main aim is to offer a safe residence to the inhabitants during their asylum procedure. 20 employees take care about several daily services attending the inhabitant’s accompaniment. Among others it is about the social, medical and animating accompaniment, besides giving answers to inhabitants’ daily questions.Since the major task of the asylum seekers center is the accompaniment of the refugees, this will also be the volunteer's main task.That means that the volunteer will take care of firm services in the daily work (serving meals, distribution of sheets and sanitary articles, working at the reception desk...).Another important task of the house is the entourage of the asylum-seekers in daily life. This is ensured by organizing different animations and activities. Likewise in this working field lies a further focus of the volunteer's work. Hereby the volunteer may use all her creativity and fantasy, there are no boundaries set. The offer of the different activities reaches from sport, culture to language courses up to manual work. Especially long-term projects according to the encouragement of inhabitants’ self-responsibility and advancement of individual abilities are possible.The volunteer is able to assist in the existing activities but she also has the possibility of becoming active herself and come up with own ideas for activities. Additional to that there is the opportunity to develop and realize own projects. Hereby the volunteer is free to come from her own interests and attributes.The volunteer works independently. However she will never be alone in the house, which means that there will always be a contact person she can ask and consult.Another important aspect is that the volunteer’s perception of other cultures is brought forward, because about 24 different nations are represented in our center. It is an objective of the Belgian Red Cross in general and of our center to reduce prejudices and acts against racism. Therefore we organize regularly events according to this ambition. The volunteers are involved into the preparation and accomplishment of these events. The appreciation for tolerance and understanding of differences are the necessary foundation for working in an arrival center for asylum seekers, which is in accordance to European ideas.
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