The voluntary sector for young people
Environment, sustainable development, helping people, culture... If you would like to get involved and play an active role in society, there are plenty of organisations ready to welcome you with open arms. Here are some pointers to help you get started.
For French speakers
- Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ): a service of the French Community of Belgium established by the Direction générale de la culture and Wallonie Bruxelles International and proposing various international programmes for 13 to 35 year olds who are residents of Wallonia and Brussels. The aims of the 'BIJ' are to meet other young people, explore different cultures, discuss themes that interest young people and allow them to express themselves and develop through intercultural experiences.
Online: www.lebij.beExternal link (FR) - Ideji: an information service for young people, families, senior citizens and actors from the voluntary sector. It publishes guides (on such topics as leisure, sport, living with a disability and education), organises workshops and training courses, and can be contacted at any time online.
Online: www.ideji.beExternal link (FR) - Infor Jeunes asbl - Drop-in and information centre for young people: a Brussels organisation supported by Actiris and the French Community Commission (COCOF) addressing all areas that impact the lives of young people (law, education, employment, citizenship, health, housing, environment, sport, culture and more).
Online: www.jeminforme.beExternal link - Infor Jeunes Brussels and Laeken: the Infor Jeunes centres in Brussels and Laeken are two NPOs set up to inform, support and advise young people and people who deal with young people in all area that concern them.
Online Infor Jeunes Brussels: inforjeunesbruxelles.beExternal link (FR) - 'Bruxelles-J', information website for young people in the Brussels-Capital Region: a platform bringing together various actors involved in informing young people, particularly in the Brussels-Capital Region. The website publishes a large quantity of information of general interest to young people in the Brussels-Capital Region (including politics, culture, social affairs and economy).
Online: www.bruxelles-j.beExternal link (FR)
A new information help desk for young people opened in Brussels in March 2010. It is a collaboration between 'BIJ' – Bureau International Jeunesse of the French Community and Infor Jeunes asbl (in Schaerbeek). Its aim is to provide young people of all ages – both individuals and groups – easy and convenient access to information about their rights and international mobility. The help desks are open 1 pm to 6 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Contact us
'BIJ' – Bureau International Jeunesse of the French Community and Infor Jeunes asbl
Rue du Commerce, 181000 Brussels
- Phone: +32 (0)2 548 38 88
For Dutch speakers
- The website of the Flemish Community Commission’s Youth Service (NL)External link provides a wide range of information for young people who want to get involved in a voluntary project.
Email: jeugddienst@vgc.be - The JeugdInformatiepunten (young people’s information points, JIP (NL))External link network is another large source of information for young people.
- Lastly, the NPO "Jint" (NL)External link helps those who want to get involved in international projects, as well as providing subsidies.