The city of Brussels is multicultural and multilingual, with a population of around 1.2 million inhabitants originating from 184 different countries. Brussels hosts international organisations and the European Institutions. What happens elsewhere in the world is felt in Brussels and impacts the work and life of its population. This was particularly tangible in the aftermath of 9/11 when public opinion associated all Muslims directly with terrorism. The presence of armed forces in the European quarter of Brussels increased and the existing and perceived isolation of poor neighbourhoods with large Muslim populations deepened
This situation called for local action. Given Brussels’ compact size, geographical isolation is easily overcome and there is an abundant presence of institutional and social actors. One of them, the Foyer non-profit organisation, has facilitated and promoted the integration of immigrants since the seventies. It is situated in Molenbeek, a traditional working class district where many newly arrived migrants have settled. Its population struggles with poverty, unemployment and neglected infrastructure. Foyer held the first dialogue day in Brussels in 2007, inspired by Nederland in Dialoog, a dialogue project launched in 2002.
© Elisabeth Razesberger, 2022
The World Needs Dialogue!
Four: Putting Dialogue to Work
ISBN: 978-1739991159
Context
The city of Brussels is multicultural and multilingual, with a population of around 1.2 million inhabitants originating from 184 different countries. Brussels hosts international organisations and the European Institutions. What happens elsewhere in the world is felt in Brussels and impacts the work and life of its population. This was particularly tangible in the aftermath of 9/11 when public opinion associated all Muslims directly with terrorism. The presence of armed forces in the European quarter of Brussels increased and the existing and perceived isolation of poor neighbourhoods with large Muslim populations deepened.
This situation called for local action. Given Brussels’ compact size, geographical isolation is easily overcome and there is an abundant presence of institutional and social actors. One of them, the Foyer non-profit organisation, has facilitated and promoted the integration of immigrants since the Seventies. It is situated in Molenbeek, a traditional working-class district where many newly arrived migrants have settled. Its population struggles with poverty, unemployment and neglected infrastructure. Foyer held the first dialogue day in Brussels in 2007, inspired by Nederland in Dialoog, a dialogue project launched in 2002.