Centre Couleurs du Monde is a refugee centre of the Belgian Red Cross. At a time it can host up to 190 people who asked for asylum in Belgium (for the moment, thanks to the new Belgian politics of immigration, only 115 people lives in Rendeux). Their stay in the centre is temporary and lasts until the necessary documents to stay legally in this country are ready and their refugee status is proved. Centre provides such services as accommodation, food, educational courses, medical and social help, cultural, sport events etc. One of the most important point is that the centre can grant for inhabitants is international exchange not only between themselves but also between them and volunteers from all over the world. That is the main purpose of the camp – intercultural exchange by way of work. To learn more about the Centre you can visit a page at Red Cross website – http://www.croix-rouge.be/activites/solidarite/asile-et-migration/les-centres-de28099accueil/couleurs-du-monde-rendeux/
The project in 2015 will be the 8th in the history of the Centre. Previous years were successful and were a source of an enthusiasm to go on.
Work:
A mix of artistic “work” and animation with the youngest refugee (0 to 18 years old). Half of the time your team will prepare some activities for the children of the centre (handicrafts, sports, games... feel free to bring your ideas), the other activity will be to do a film report of a play prepared by the centre with the residents. You’ll be a direct witness of their work to explain the different procedures to ask for asylum in Belgium.
Accommodation:
It will be provided in the Centre itself – 2 rooms per 4 volunteers each. Every room has its own bathroom and toilet, but still very simple. The rooms are exactly the same as residents’ ones; but can be provided if there is enough space for people who asked for asylum, who have a priority for accommodation. Smoking and alcohol drinking inside is strictly forbidden.
Food:
Food will be provided. Pork is not cooked in the centre. If you keep a vegetarian diet, you are welcome as well, just let us know.
Location:
Rendeux is a countryside village that lies in the country's Walloon Region and Luxembourg Province and accounts up to 2,500 inhabitants. The village of Rendeux is situated in the valley of the River Ourthe in an area, which attracts many visitors both for its natural beauty and for such nearby medieval villages as La Roche-en-Ardenne (11km) and Durbuy (18km). For more details, please, visit:www.rendeux.be
The closest train station is 8km away – Melreux-Hotton (there is a bus, running till train station – just 10 minutes). Belgium is quite small and cozy country, most cities and nice places are easy reachable by train. Brussels is about 2h30 away from Rendeux.
Meeting Point Melreux-Hotton train station at 3.00pm
Camp language:
English, some notions of French will be useful, and also you can find here a lot of people from all over the world, you can discover numerous of other languages! Facial expression, sign language and emotional interjections may help you in any situation! Feel free!
« I appreciate that constructive criticism may be more useful to you than praise but I honestly have no gripes that I could possibly mention. I can only thank you for the experience that I really enjoyed and will undoubtedly follow-up in the coming year. »
