Inburgering Flemish policy Flanders Belgium Good practise in

Inburgering Flemish policy / Flanders / Belgium Good practise in Brussels Expert seminar on European modules Riga 28 oct 2010

Eric De Jonge General Director bon is the Brussels Welcome office 3 local offices and 72 multilingual staff members bon is financed by the Flemish community on the policy of inburgering -2 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Belgium a brief reminder • 1 federal state • 3 communities : Flemish, French & German • 3 regions : Flanders , Wallonia & Brussels • Different policies from different authorities -3 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Inburgering = Civic Integration • « is an interactive process through which the government provides immigrants with a specific programme on the one hand to allow them to increase their self-reliance and on the other hand to encourage society to recognise these people as fully-fledged citizens, with the aim of achieving full, active participation and shared citizenship of everyone as well as sufficient social coherence. » • Active since 1 st april 2004 -4 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Target group o Adult newcomers and “old comers” ü Foreign nationality or Belgian nationals born abroad ü Registered with a Brussels municipality ü Residence status with a view of long-term residence o -5 - Minor newcomers bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Compulsory vs Volontury • Compulsory: only in Flanders Newcomers ( < 1 year in Belgium) & Ministers of recognised religions • Volontury: › Flanders : oldcomers & Europeans, … › Brussels : everybody : new- & oldcomers -6 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Reaching the target group in Brussels -7 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Programme Reception & Intake 1. Social Orientation Course = introductory course / civic orientation 2. Elementary Dutch language course 3. Individual guidance 4. Career orientation o Social participation o Free of charge o -8 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Reception desk • In cooperation with the House of Dutch -9 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Intake • Introduction of bon’s programme • Enrollment of the candidateparticipant • Test ‘Covaar’ (cognitive skills) at the House of Dutch • Definition of one’s path at bon on the basis of: - language - education level - result of the test ‘Covaar’ • Sign the contract - 10 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Social Orientation o o o • • o o In a contact Language / 60 – 80 h CLIMO – method (scanning needs / composing programme / debate) Correct information Belgium, Flanders, Brussels: history, structures, rights, duties, values, norms, Living / Working / Health care & social security To measure (hg/mg/lg/alfa) Acquiring skills bon 2010: +/-100 courses in 12 languages - 11 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Elementary Dutch course 1. 1. o To measure (various durations) o In collaboration with • Recognised Centers by Min of Education • Adult education centres • Adult basic education centres - 12 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Guidance o o o - 13 - Individual guidance during the entire programme : Empowerment Key to success For example: contact and assistance with social services, day care, immigration procedures… bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Career Orientation o Support with choosing a profession or finding a vocational training through structured interviews o In collaboration with employment & vocational training partners: Tracé Brussel, Actiris and VDAB - 14 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Social Participation o o - 15 - Socio-cultural activities available in Brussels Encouragement of active participation Volunteer work… = According to needs and interests bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Figures o 20. 000 newcomers/year in Flanders o +/- Same figure in Brussels Region o 8 Welcome offices ( 5 Flemish provinces / 3 cities Antwerp Ghent & Brussels) o Yearly budget Flanders & Brussels 25/27 million € o 20. 000 / 30. 000 inburgeraars / year – increasing story - 16 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Impact of Inburgering • Study by HIVA / KUL University of Leuven • Analyse of cohorte 2005 & 2007 • • Since 2007 also oldcomers Compulsory works/ reach: 90% vs 60% voluntory (Fl) Need of flexible program for working people Inburgeraars very positive towards offered programme • Positive impact towards labour market • Level of language : to weak • Need of better collaboration with partners - 17 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Partners - 18 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau

Thank you for your attention! Eric De Jonge Bon vzw Inburgering Brussel Toekomststraat 35, 1080 St Jans Molenbeek / Brussel eric. de. jonge@bon. be - 19 - bon - Brussels Onthaalbureau