Buurtschatten, Antwerp (Belgium)

The Evens Foundation was one of the founders of Buurtschatten and has given it continuous support, both in shaping the project and in financing a community fund. This fund is designed according to the overall guidelines for Community Foundations; that is, a fund that serves a geographically defined area, is set up to address local needs, and is governed by a group of residents of the area. They are the real experts and decision-makers. The overall project is managed by Samenlevingsopbouw Antwerpen Stad. Buurtschatten challenges residents to realize their own projects that improve the quality of life in their community. Residents indeed have a fantastic ability to enthuse others about their ideas, and the perseverance to put them into effect. Buurtschatten provides a framework and, if necessary, financial support for such ideas. In 2010, particular attention was paid to involving young people in Buurtschatten, who were encouraged, with varying success, to take their own initiatives or to cooperate in the projects of other residents.

Examples of such projects are: a senior member of the campaign fund took the initiative to organize a project with young people to shoot short films in the neighborhood with their own mobile phones. A couple of young Afghan refugees organized an event at which they presented their country to residents of the neighborhood through live music, a photo exhibition and video. Buurtschatten financed the photo exhibition. In partnership with Buurtschatten, young people were involved in organizing and taking the stage at 't Noord ontspoort, a free music festival by and for young people.

Out of these and other experiences, we have learnt that taking a 'group' approach toward youth in Antwerp-North is the most efficient way of engaging them in Buurtschatten.

Because Buurtschatten has proven to be so successful in the Antwerp-North district, the project's birthplace, it was decided in 2010 to expand to the Antwerp-Linkeroever district. After a successful launch campaign, the project is now under way. There are also plans to expand the project to the Antwerp-Kiel district in the near future.

Website: www.buurtschatten.be