Belgium’s Youth Aid and Social Movements: A Cry for Attention

Belgium’s Youth Aid and Social Movements: A Cry for Attention

The Plight of Belgium’s Youth Aid Organizations

On Tuesday, a considerable number of individuals congregated in front of the MontLégia clinic in Liège. This event was initiated by the Liège Collective, aiming to shed light on the problems faced by various youth aid organizations. Workers from these institutions voiced their feelings of desperation towards numerous children in precarious situations who are not receiving suitable assistance. They represent a variety of services including youth aid structures, psycho-medical-social centers, mental health units, and SOS Children of MontLégia.

Several attendees recounted specific instances of children in need, such as an eight-month-old girl who was hospitalized at three months of age after being shaken by her father. The child remains in the hospital due to a lack of foster care. Similarly, seven-month-old twins have not left the hospital since their birth, also because of lack of accommodation. These poignant examples served to underscore the urgency and severity of the situation.

Lack of Cohesion: A Major Obstacle to Effective Aid

Nadine Lipstadt, director of the residential service for youth “La Frênaie”, and Marianne Balaes, director of the family foster care support service “En famille”, criticized the lack of cohesive vision among different services. Each of these services is managed by different ministers, causing disruption in the life journeys of hundreds of children. They pleaded for a greater focus on endangered children and emphasized the need for more collaboration among the different services.

The Liège Collective: A United Front for Children in Danger

The Liège Collective was established in April 2023, emerging from a meeting of staff from both public and private youth aid services. It was unveiled that approximately a thousand children in danger in the Liège district, based on the waiting lists of the SAJ and SPJ of Liège, are not receiving adequate help. In response to this alarming situation, the workers decided to take action to draw political attention to the need for sustainable solutions.

Belgium’s Social Movements: A Historical Perspective

Belgium has a history of social movements advocating for various causes. The Yellow Vests Protests that began in November 2018 in France sparked similar movements across the globe, including Belgium. The protests initially demanded economic justice and later called for institutional political reforms. The Yellow Vests Protests evolved over time, with the citizens’ initiative referendums becoming its unique goal. The movement, however, diminished due to violence and the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed after health restrictions were lifted.

The Youth for Climate Movement: A Global Initiative

Another significant social movement that impacted Belgium was the Youth for Climate movement. Inspired by Greta Thunberg’s powerful speech at the COP24 Climate Conference in Poland, Belgian schoolgirls Anuna De Wever and Kyra Gantois launched the Youth for Climate Facebook page in December 2018. Their demand was simple – action from politicians as time was running out. This movement led to a wave of grassroots climate protests across the country, with thousands of schoolchildren skipping school to join the demonstrations, demanding better climate policies.

These examples of social movements in Belgium reflect the country’s active civil society and the people’s willingness to mobilize for causes they believe in. However, the challenges faced by youth aid organizations highlight the urgent need for attention, resources, and a cohesive strategy to ensure the welfare of children in danger.