Brussels adult training centre brings diverse groups together

Brussels social education centre Citizenne has been awarded this year’s Flemish Culture Prize in the category of social-cultural work with adults, culture minister Joke Schauvliege announced.

Citizenne is part of a network of Vormingplus centres across Flanders that help residents develop new personal and social skills. The centre organises courses, debates, workshops and excursions (pictured). It targets Dutch speakers in Brussels in particular but also sets out to create co-operative partnerships with other groups.

The centre – the name is a play on “citizen” coupled with the name of the river Zenne – differs from other Vormingplus centres in Flanders, Schauvliege said, because of the social, cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Brussels, which presents special challenges but also gives the group a unique dynamism.

For example, the CLIP project (City Life Imagine Play) created more “play space” in the city, including Tai Chi sessions in railway stations, a giant seesaw for grown-ups and a workshop on increasing a child’s notion of “play” in your life.

Schauvliege presented the award yesterday in Antwerp during the annual Trefdag, which gathers together Vormingplus centres from around the region. Citizenne gives “special attention to groups who have difficulty taking advantage of trainings,” she said. “That’s the message being sent out by the staff and volunteers of Vormingplus Citizenne and other Vormingplus centres, with an enthusiasm than can move mountains.” 

www.citizenne.be

Image credit
Citizenne