The Jury Prizes
Fonds voor het Zeepreventorium - De Haan
Practical food education programme for overweight children and their parents.
The Zeepreventorium in Coq (De Haan) welcomes children and young adults suffering from chronic respiratory and skin diseases, eating disorders and diabetes. The centre is located between sea and woods, right in the middle of dunes, making it an ideal place for its pure air. In order to help severely overweight children and their parents, Zeepreventorium's Fund came up with the idea of installing an "educational" kitchen in its premises. This enables families to learn in practice how to adapt eating habits without having to get rid of all the good things on the menu.
According to a study carried out in collaboration with the University of Ghent, the multidisciplinary approach (medical, paramedical and educational) of the centre has already shown excellent results in the treatment of obesity: half of the patients stay stable in the long term. Installing this educational kitchen could further improve these results. On the 6th of June, the official inauguration of the kitchen took place in the presence of a representative of the Proximus Foundation and Koen Crucke.
La Passerelle - Hannut
Renovating transition accommodation for disabled people.
La Passerelle offers a residential overnight service as well as a residential transition service to disabled people. Both services are located in different places (2km apart). The aim of La Passerelle is to offer its patients a comfortable and spacious environment, to encourage them to lead a normal and fulfilling life style, to promote integration and to favour non-institutional outings. The association wants to enable the people who come to the institution to progressively gain more autonomy. Some patients have gained enough autonomy and no longer require full-time care, but they are keen to keep in close contact with the infrastructure of the centre. To answer to these people's needs, two new studios have been built in the house neighbouring the accommodation centre. The aim is to help them make their first steps towards greater integration into life outside of the institution. La Passerelle wants to equip the studios with a kitchen, a bedroom and a living room.
Bezorgd om mensen - Tienen
Increasing the distribution of food to underprivileged people
Bezorgd om mensen is a working group born out of the desire to help the people who are most in need in the region. Its objectives include helping the most underprivileged people with discretion and respect, being close to the people and available to everyone, integrating people in difficult situations (because of social, material, financial, physical, psychological or other reasons). The main activities of the association revolve around the running of a second-hand shop in which essential products are sold at a very low cost. The profits gained from this activity enable the association to buy food packs and to distribute them freely to the poor. Bezorgd om mensen is calling on the Proximus Foundation to help buy a clean small truck that will allow the transport of the food that comes from the food banks and the supermarkets to the people in need.
In Tienen on Friday, October 24 2003, the keys to the van were officially handed over in the presence of around forty people.
Le Mouvement du Nid - Brussels/Charleroi/Liège
Restoring self-esteem
Everyday the Nid meets people living in prostitution in Belgium's big cities. More and more these people are victim of human trade and forced to prostitute themselves, against their will, by criminal networks who exploit them. These young women come mostly from politically and economically unstable countries and find themselves in very difficult situations because of their illegal status in our country. They are often under aged and live in great poverty. The Nid does its best to provide them with access to health care, a place where they are welcomed and listened to, a place to sleep and training for those who are lucky enough to abandon prostitution. The aim of the "Restoring self-esteem" project is to initiate a programme of humanitarian assistance adapted to the most vulnerable victims of human trade, that is young under aged girls, pregnant women as well as the babies they give birth to in real poverty.
Caritas Gruppe - St-Vith
Material for the padding workshop
Caritas helps underprivileged people who are not able to find jobs through the usual social circuit. Its mission is to integrate these people into recovery work (furniture for example) in order to break their loneliness and to give meaning to their lives. The long-term aim is to eventually reinstate these people into the workplace and give them access to a 'normal life'. Caritas has put in place different workshops: stripping furniture, repairing bicycles, padding... The recovered and restored objects are then sold at very low prices that everyone can afford. The association has called on the Proximus Foundation to help it buy a machine to cut the stuffing and material for the padding workshop.
Amicale nationale des malades cardiaques - Kortenberg
Breaking the loneliness of people with heart disease
Because of the physical disability caused by their illness, people with heart disease are not always aware of what they can or cannot do especially with regards to physical activities. This uncertainty and the lack of information about their new condition often means that these people isolate themselves. The national association of people with heart disease was created by and for patients with heart problems. It organises various activities to break these people's loneliness: cultural excursions and trips with medical assistance, conferences aimed at patients and their families, adapted sport and leisure activities...People have the opportunity to get to know each other and exchange experiences in a relaxed atmosphere. This helps them regain confidence. The association is putting into place communication tools in order to bring its members even closer together: a newsletter published 4 times a year and a medical database where patients will find lots of useful information.
Compagnons Dépanneurs - Antwerp - Ham-sur-Sambre - Brussels - Laeken - Liège - Namur
Furnishing a meeting room in the new premises
The "Helpers association" deals with renovating homes of people with no means. The aim of this association is to help voluntary people and those receiving the help grow personally. The "Helpers association" offers its services free of charge to underprivileged people, homes or institutions. These services include painting, electrical repairs, carpentry, plumbing, moving... The association has moved into bigger premises and would like to install a meeting room which would be used for training young people, for open days... The help of the Proximus Foundation will enable the association to buy tables, chairs, cupboards, a photocopier...
Foyer Espérance asbl - Namur/Dinant/Marche
Vehicle replacement
The educational help and intervention service provideq children and young people, with psycho-sociological educational support. The children and youths experience different problems: relational problems, suffer from neglect, abuse, or are part of single parent families in difficulty. The organisation primarily serves the region of Namur but also Dinant and Marche. Because this reach-out programme assists the children and youths in their own environment, numerous rural trips are frequently required. In order to support approximately 60 youths per year, one of their vehicles urgently needs to be replaced. The submitted proposal will enable the purchase of a new vehicle.
Pony Paradise - Anderlecht
Harness adapted to the needs of disabled persons
Pony Paradise is a small riding school located in an old farm in the countryside of Neerpede (Anderlecht). For five years, aided by the support of volunteers, the team of Pony paradise has assisted with the integration of able-bodied and disabled people through the use of hippotherapy. This hippotherapy centre, which includes an educational farm project, would like to buy harnessing equipment adapted for the transport of disabled people and steps equipped with a mounting block for people in wheelchairs. This would enable them to follow other people's lessons and to watch the shows involving the horses. Indeed, some disabled people cannot ride horses but they can harness them and enjoy themselves as a spectator.
Sensoa vzw - Antwerp
Jongensprostitutie.be - website development for boys in prostitution
Sensoa was launched on 1 January 2001, as a Flemish service provider and centre of expertise; the organisation provides information about sexuality, safe sex and quality of life issues for HIV sufferers. The organisation seeks funding from the Proximus Foundation for the creation of a website that would reach out to boys in prostitution as many of them work via the Internet. Via the website, information will be provided about health, safe sex and social services and to help them improve their life situation. Isolated and vulnerable, boys all over Belgium can be reached through this medium.
Belgische Tandemraceclub voor visueel gehandicapten - Deurne - Brussels
Tour of Belgium for sufferers of sight impairment
The Belgian tandem club ViGe enables people with a sight impairment to participate in tandem excursions and races in Belgium and abroad. From May 29 till June 1st 2003, the club organised the 17th edition of a four-day tour of Belgium. This is the only Belgian event appearing in the international cyclists calendar for people with sight impairment.
Ter Wende Observatie- en behandelingscentrum - Leuven
Therapeutic playroom
The Ter Wende centre helps youths suffering from socio-psychological problems and serious behavioural difficulties. In the centre, youths follow a programme of observation, therapy, ortho-pedagogy and orientation. The youths spend a maximum of 36 months in the centre. Having established a relationship with the youths, all possibilities are then explored. Traditional books and games as well as adapted methodologies can be of assistance in helping the youths to make progress. Ter Wende would like to implement a programme that addresses emotions, ideas and thoughts. As part of this programme the centre would like to work on attitudinal change and stimulate positive acceptance. Ter Wende has requested funding from the Proximus Foundation to support this new initiative.
Vereniging voor Hulp aan Gehandicapten Limburg - Zonhoven
Creative forest path
The association would like to provide residents of the care centre Ter Heide with a real woodland experience. The association would like to lay a forest path for residents with a severe mental handicap. The natural environment is stimulating and soothing. The path has an interesting added value in comparison to a traditional walk and more traditional motor-exercises. It will also increase and compliment the existing free time activity programme.
Het Belang van Limburg 15.11.2003 (only available in dutch)
Drawing of the log cabin, made by one of the inhabitants.
Chairos VZW vriendenkring palliatieve zorg - Courtrai
Accompagner les enfants dans le deuil
Ce projet contribue à l'information et à la formation des personnes qui pratiquent les soins palliatifs dans les hôpitaux et les unités de soins palliatifs dans la région. En effet, ceux-ci se retrouvent souvent dans des situations délicates, notamment lorsque des enfants sont confrontés à la mort d'un proche. Il semble en effet qu'on les oublie un peu dans les jours qui précèdent le décès et au moment même. Et ceci, alors que la recherche scientifique tend à prouver actuellement qu'un soutien dans les jours avant et autour du décès ont un caractère préventif. L'objectif de ce projet est donc de créer un groupe de travail spécialisé, et de réaliser des brochures et une série de documents d'accompagnement pour ces professionnels des soins palliatifs.
Une note pour chacun - Brussels
Catch my song
The association "A musical key for each and everyone" was founded in 1992. Its aim is to give disabled children or children in hospital access to music in a regular, fun and educational way. At present, the association carries out weekly activities in thirteen different hospital wards, and to date 5000 children have been able to benefit from it. Children with chronic diseases are often faced with integration problems in schools, holiday camps and school outings. They suffer a second discrimination (the first being their illness) because people are not well informed about their illness. "A musical key for each and everyone" would like to produce an educational CD aimed at schools and children's wards. The diseases, their consequences and what the sick children have to endure will be explained in a simple way so that they no longer have to suffer from other people's ignorance. Christian Merveille has already accepted to participate in this initiative.
Het Anker - Bruges
How to deal with behavioural problems
The association Het Anker is an organisation that offers support to parents and families of autistic people or people who suffer from emotional and long-term behavioural problems (children, youngsters or adults). The association wants to forge different ties with these parents and help them to get to know each other. The exchange of information would help them improve their lifestyle. To achieve this, the association wants to organise assertiveness training classes for parents of young children with emotional problems. Thanks to these sessions, the parents will be better equipped to face the difficulties of everyday life. These sessions are held for small groups (10 people max) by the social workers of the association who already know the children.
Sport pour Handicapés - Fleurus
Le SPH en Fête
Dans le cadre de l'année européenne de la Personne Handicapée, le Sport pour Handicapés Fleurus organise une semaine sportive destinée notamment à attirer l'attention du public, des pouvoirs publics et des médias. Le thème de l'événement sera l'accessibilité dans tous les sens du terme. En 20 ans, le club a accueilli des centaines d'athlètes handicapés : il leur a permis de retrouver une vie sociale, de s'épanouir, de remporter des trophées, de voyager, ... Trois activités majeures sont proposées : un rallye touristique à la découverte de la ville de Fleurus (équipes mixtes valide - non valide), un triathlon de la différence en passant du sport à la culture et une soirée de gala avec un spectacle de danses folkloriques. La contribution de la Proximus Foundation servira à l'élaboration et à l'organisation des différentes activités.
La Trace - Brussels
Work together towards autonomy
La Trace is a centre that guides adults with difficulties, most of whom suffer from drug addiction or mental health problems, through sport-adventure. The centre wants to buy tandems to offer its patients an unusual and democratic leisure activity, which would set off from the institution's doorstep. As this is an activity that has to be carried out by two people, it would encourage stronger social ties and a greater transition towards a more autonomous and stable life. The association plans to organise two tandem outings of one day a month. Longer sessions will be considered for the more or less long-term. There is great enthusiasm for this project and thanks to the Proximus Foundation, the association will be able to buy the necessary material.
Les Lucioles - Lasne
Centre for sensory discoveries
Les Lucioles is an unusual nursery where normal children interact and spend everyday with disabled children, allowing for an easier integration. Les Lucioles was founded in 1990 by parents and professionals because of the lack of places available in the Walloon Brabant to look after disabled children. Links were made with a nursery school to put an end to the isolation of the disabled children. The association wants to create an area specially designed for multi-disabled children. This would be a space for relaxation and sensory stimulation. The disabled child would discover the world in different ways through various tactile, body, visual and hearing experiences. Discovery through the senses brings a feeling of well-being to these children and encourages communication with the adults and with their environment.
Vereniging hartgetransplanteerden - Antwerp
Mobile telephones for patients waiting for a heart transplant
This association would like to provide people who are waiting for a heart transplant, and who do not have a mobile phone or a beeper, with mobile telephones and Pay&Go cards. These patients need to be reachable 24 hours a day, in case a compatible heart is found. To date, the association has been able to provide beepers. This project's aim is to buy 5 mobile telephones with Pay&Go cards that could be made available to patients the moment they are on a waiting list until the day they leave the hospital following their operation.
The official presentation of seven mobile phones took place Wednesday October 8 2003 in the Antwerp university hospital.
Professor Inez Rodrigus, head of the cardio-surgery department and Guy Van Honsté, chair of the Heart Transplant Patient Association, received the mobile phones.
De Dauw - Wortegem-Petegem
Therapeutic garden
De Dauw welcomes children from the age of 2.5 years until 21 years old who have special individual therapy needs. In the context of a new work methodology, the centre would like to create a therapeutic garden for autistic and psychotic children. The natural environment of the garden should assist in communicating with the children and help to establish a trust relationship. Courtyard animals, a small vegetable garden, a wooded area, a sand pit, a greenhouse, a sports field and a playground have been foreseen in the garden plans. The garden will allow the development of individual and group activities.
Globul'in - Anhée
Action-Aventure
Globul'In is a help service for non-institutionalised children aged between 0 - 18 years old, their families, teachers and guides. The association fights against social exclusion in the judicial district of Dinant through the promotion of adventure sport. The results obtained with the local population have encouraged the association to promote this methodology to the French community. In order to do this, a principle tool needs to be developed: an adventure circuit filled with obstacles that develop social values such as mutual help, solidarity, responsibility and surpassing oneself. This circuit has to be accessible to the majority of young people, in particular; schools, institutions and associations helping youths with problems.
Asbl Les Gentianes - Mons
Multi-purpose room for children
This home for victims of abuse, welcomes children aged between 3 and 12 years of age. This year the home would like to renovate a shed located next to the main building. This area would be used as a psychomotricity workshop, a playroom, a painting and theatre workshop and a meeting place for theme parties (St-Nicholas, Carnival, Halloween, ...). Funding is sought to assist with the renovation work.
La Clé - Brussels
Family home for deaf & hard of hearing children
For 30 years the Clé rented two adjacent houses in a region that over time has become the centre for Brussels' European institutional activities. As there are no longer any residents in the area, the organisation decided to construct a home in a residential area to promote social integration. In the new home for deaf children and children with hearing difficulties, the Clé would like to provide a comfortable and warm living environment, adapted to teenagers, where they can develop their autonomy as best as possible. The organization is seeks funding from the Proximus Foundation to help furnish the floor allocated for the teenagers.
Cliniclowns - Antwerp
National expansion project
Cliniclowns submitted this project in collaboration with two Proximus employees; Lieve Van Driessche and Freddy Mal. Today, Cliniclown activities are mainly undertaken in the province of Antwerp. The organisation feels that all children staying in hospital have the right to be amused and distracted and they are not the only ones. In hospitals where the Cliniclowns are currently to be found, endorsers of the programme are unanimous, something needs to be done. This is why the Cliniclowns wants to expand their activities to 6 other Belgian provinces (West Flanders, Limburg, Liège, Hainaut, Luxembourg and Namur) where the Cliniclowns could serve approximately 5 hospitals in each region. Support is requested from the Proximus Foundation to fund more clowns.
Mivalti - Tielt
Creation of a sensory discovery area
Mivalti welcomes handicapped adults in the Tielt region. The day centre comprises 20 places and the residence welcomes 44 people all of whom represent different groups of people with different needs. Certain residents suffering from a severe mental handicap or several handicaps need regular sensory stimulation in order to thrive in their environment. It is important to allow these people to have different experiences through stimulating light, sound, smell, taste and touch. The aim of the sensory area is to maximise evolution possibilities particularly amongst the weakest residents. Until present, the residents have had to go outside the home, which has had a significant impact upon the number of relaxation sessions the residents can experience per week.
Mivalti Tielt held an open day on Sunday October 12, 2003. It was the ideal occasion to present the brand-new "snoezel" area to parents, guardians, family, friends, the press and the population. With the donation of the Proximus Foundation, Mivalti was able to buy a water mattress, bubble units with light and adapted remote control, a fluid projector and an aromatherapy device for the "snoezel" area.
Zusters van Liefde J&M Bernadette - Lovendegem
Replacement of the therapeutic air cushion
The institution has owned a therapeutic air cushion for the past 15 years that has been used on a daily basis by all residents suffering from a handicap (used at least 10 hours per day, 2800 hours per year). Approximately 10 people can use this cushion at a time, with activities varying depending upon their physical capabilities; the most able persons jump and move around on the cushion, whilst the lesser able persons really benefit from lying on the cushion. After 15 years of intensive use the cushion needs urgent replacement, for which funding from the Proximus Foundation is sought.
Asbl Lui et nous - Brussels
Handicirque : école de cirque
The Lui et nous centre works together with children suffering from hearing deficiencies coupled with personality and behavioural problems. The handicirque project would enable a group of 6 deaf children with behavioural problems to attend circus school every Monday, in order to learn circus techniques with the aim of helping one another in a fun and friendly way. The experience would finish with an end of year show. This project has different goals; increased physical exercise, improved concentration and perseverance capabilities, increased belief in oneself, relationship building as well as instilling a sense of solidarity and responsibility amongst the youths.
Le Goéland - Nivelles
La Clef des Champs
The association "Le Goéland" has five residences for integration and/or transition for young adults from underprivileged backgrounds, who are dependant upon social aid. The Clef des Champs is a residence that provides accommodation to young people in trouble. This project proposal to the Proximus Foundation has the aim of improving fire safety measures in the residence. Indeed, this is not an obligation but the association would like to provide maximum safety for its young lodgers in the Clef des Champs.
Aides aux Maisons Familiales - Braine-L'Alleud
Sport & adventure expedition
Le Chenal is a help centre for young people, which specialises in taking teenagers with serious behavioural problems in hand (children who do not attend school, young criminals...). The aim of this project is to organise sport and adventure expeditions with these youngsters. Thanks to the funding from the Proximus foundation, the association can purchase adequate and good quality material (rucksacks, mattresses, tents, clothes...).