CEAL program – Muide Meulestede / Gent (Belgium)

 

Context

This pilot was hosted by Act4Change in the neighborhood of Muide,  located in the north of Ghent, surrounded by harbor activities. When the employment of people in the Muide in the harbor industry stopped, many young local people moved out of this former very active community.

A lot of migrants moved to the Muide out of the more expensive city centre. The diversity generated segregation, and young people still move out of the Muide since there are not many activities happening for them. The local government tried to turn around this process by attracting young middle class families with a higher income, which created an interesting diversity in the community, nevertheless, there are still a lot of social challenges.

During the CEAL pilot Act4change organized an education council, consisting of various teachers and professors of social studies of universities and other educational institutions to advice on curriculum development and who opened up for students to join the program.

At the other side VZW-jong, a youth based organization based in Ghent stepped into the project. Together they hosted a kick-off workshop using the power of cooperative games as a way to engage youth and in early 2016 students and youth got together to start involving the neighborhood in the collaboration to realize youth-initiatives of the involved group of youngsters.

One of the outcomes was a pop-up community cinema, which inspired the youth to collaborate around setting up more activities around one overall dream: the need for more meeting opportunities for people of the neighbourhood.

During the ‘challenge yourselves’ phase which consisted of various follow up gatherings. We splitted this dream into three challenges. 1. More sport facilities in Muide. 2. Exchange system for services together with refugees. 3. Organising a talent-show. The project of Muide was especially successful in bringing together people from different backgrounds and ideas are said to be integrated in future planning of the city.

Community partner – Vzw Jong is a youth organization, based in Ghent and also active in the Muide. Their mission is to raise personal and social emancipation of youngsters in different neighborhoods. VZW Jong organizes daily activities for diverse groups of youngsters in their spare time. VZW Jong defends the interests of youngsters in their contacts with other organisations, facilities and governments.

Educactional partner – During the CEAL pilot Act4change organized an education council, consisting of various teachers and professors of social studies of universities and other educational institutions to advice on curriculum development and who opened up for students to join the program, incl. University College Arteveldehogschool Gent, Community Service Learning of University of Ghent and , Social Entrepreneurship Center of Hogeschool Gent.

Program Design

– PHASE 1. Introduction training week including OASIS methodology, goal setting, team development and meeting the local community
– PHASE 2. Challenge phase including setting up community events and
projects to tackle local food waste, combined with community enterprise
training
– PHASE 3. Residential Reflection including reflection of the experience and
project planning for the future (of Edventure or individual participants?

Participants – 8 students and volunteers, 12 youngsters from the community and several community members.

Results

– a movie night with 35 people of the neighbourhood
– constructed a cosy corner
– Community diner with a buffet of different dishes
– We collected tiles. People of the neighbourhood painted their dreams for the        Muide.
– We integrated our programme in the future planning of the city

Learning – “To dream means to provide the appropriate space and relationship for the expression of the best and deepest aspirations in us all.”

Who to get in touch with for participation of more information?

Get in touch with

Dorien Campfort: Dorien@act4change.be

Vincent Bellinx: Vincent@act4change.be

Sebastiaan Kennes: sebastiaan@act4change.be

Katrin Van den Troost: katrin@act4change.be