International solidarity and global citizenship education

Brussels International organises a number of initiatives, including: a call for projects “NORTH”, a platform of Brussels-based international solidarity players and a campaign to make the Brussels-Capital Region a fair trade region. 

This call for projects, created in 2017, supports Belgian associations that encourage young Brussels citizens aged 12 to 25 to become committed and solidary citizens across borders. This is aimed at youngsters of all identities, backgrounds and ethnic, cultural and social origins. 

The supported activities must:

• be organised in the Brussels-Capital Region,
• contribute to achieving the Opens in new windowSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to global citizenship and solidarity,
• strengthen the knowledge, interpersonal skills and know-how (technical skills) of the young participants. 

The organisations selected in each edition, as well as the projects funded and the amounts awarded, can be viewed below. 

Opens in new windowSoliris.brussels is:

• an informal platform (i.e. without a legal personality) bringing together the Brussels international solidarity players (municipalities, diaspora associations, accredited NGOs, federations, the Region, etc.), with the following aims: 

  • networking during organised events or one-on-one meetings
  • exchanging information and best practices with regard to the international solidarity and development cooperation sector
  • building the capacity of its members, i.e. municipal officials and representatives of diaspora associations, through training, individual support, knowledge sharing, etc.
  • improving the coordination of international solidarity players at regional level and enhancing their visibility in the public and administrative spheres
  • supporting the development of joint projects between municipalities and associations 

   

• one or two theme days a year, bringing together all stakeholders (members, non-members, general public, Brussels MPs)
• a regularly updated website and a bilingual newsletter (French-Dutch)
• a regional database of diaspora associations
• capacity-building training (in accounting, management and communication) and project working groups

The platform is operational thanks to: 

• two coordinators
  • an employee of Opens in new windowCNCD-11.11.11, who coordinates the association part of the platform, and
  • an employee of Opens in new windowEchos Communication, who coordinates the municipal part of the platform;
• a subsidy granted by Brussels International to both organisations mentioned above;
• a steering committee comprising the two coordinators, a representative of Opens in new windowBrulocalis, a representative of Brussels International and at least one representative of the members of each part of the platform. 

Further information on the platform’s activities and news can be found on Opens in new windowtheir website.

The campaign “Make Brussels a Fair Trade Region”, Opens in new windowwhich was launched in May 2021 at the Brussels Parliament, aims to: 

• raise awareness and communicate about fair trade,
• encourage the purchase of fair trade products,
• position fair trade, and
• unite the players and create links.

The initiators of this campaign are:

• Opens in new windowEnabel’s Opens in new windowTrade for Development Centre (TDC) –> which manages the Belgian “Fair Trade Week” campaign,
• and Opens in new windowOxfam World Stores (OWS) –> which manages the Opens in new window“Fair Trade Municipalities” campaign. 

Creation history: 

• early 2020: a working group meets with the idea of launching a campaign similar to the Opens in new windowFair Trade Municipalities and Opens in new windowFair Trade Week in Brussels.
• 2020-2021: Sonecom-Dris-CPCP is commissioned to produce a “Review of the current situation and prospects for making Brussels a Fair Trade Region”.
• 2021: based on this study, six criteria are defined (+ link to the flyer in PDF format), which have to be achieved in order to become a “Fair Trade Region”, and a first annual action plan is validated.
• At the same time, the campaign steering platform is set up, bringing together the initiators and other Brussels and Belgian players that are active in the sector.
• April 2021: the government has adopted a declaration in support of the campaign
• May 2021: the Brussels parliament has given its backing to the campaign and has facilitated its official launch.

More information about the campaign and the activities it comprises can be found on Opens in new windowtheir dedicated website.