Do you have plans yet for Summer or Autumn 2018? Moved to do something with your time to help other people? UNA Exchange is partnering with JAVVA (a youth organisation of citizen action and intercultural dialogue) to provide opportunities for participants from the UK to volunteer with the Red Cross Centre for Asylum Seekers at Fraipont.
According to statistics from the United Nations Refugee Agency, there are currently some 22.5 million refugees and a further 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
The centre for asylum seekers in Fraipont is one of the reception centres managed by the Red Cross in Belgium. Residents come from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and other parts of the world. The centre provides accommodation and food, support on the asylum process, medical aid, schooling for young people as well as social activities.
“How wonderful it is that no one has to wait, but can start right now to gradually change the world! How wonderful it is that everyone, great and small, can immediately help bring about justice by giving of themselves.” — Anne Frank
Volunteers will take part in the community life of the centre and tasks will include renovation works and organisation of entertainment activities for residents. Available volunteering dates in 2018 comprise: 2nd-15th July; 13th-26th August; and 22nd September-6th October.
UNA Exchange is a member of the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS), which is affiliated to UNESCO. Through membership of CCIVS we work with 100s of not-for-profit organisations around the world that work to develop and empower local communities.
We would be delighted to answer any questions and help you book your international volunteering opportunity. Please get in touch by emailing: assistant@unaexchange.org. We support all participants to prepare for volunteering abroad with pre-departure training.