City now has 4,000 street volunteers: “More and more Antwerp residents are taking part” | Antwerp
AntwerpThe influx of new street volunteers in the city of Antwerp is going fast. Alderman of Equal Opportunities Karim Bachar (Vooruit) joined on Tuesday to pick up litter, open and around the site of ZNA Psychiatric Nursing Home and cut a cake with Tarik Moüssaoui (23), the 4,000th street volunteer.
Antwerp started in 1999 with street volunteers. They clear litter and signal illegal dumping. Coach Sabine De Boitselier gets a lot of work pleasure out of it. “We will see the number of volunteers increase for at least three years, to 500 to 600 per year. More and more people are aware of the importance of a healthy environment. People in their thirties with children also participate en masse.”
According to De Boitselier, success also lies in the low-threshold. “Nothing has to be done. take their work seriously again and spend 50 to 60 hours a week on it.”
Butts and shit
Tarik Moüssaoui is usually in the weather twice a week. He has been living in the Psychiatric Nursing Home since February last year. “I like to help people, I also like to be outside.” When we ask him what annoys him most, he doesn’t hesitate: dog poo. “But I also hate cigarette butts.” (read more below the photo)
Els is kine and one of Tarik’s supervisors. Picking up litter is a meaningful activity. Our residents are also on a walk in one effort. And so the entrance to the WZC Lozanahof (in the same building, ed.) remains tidy.”
valuation
Occupational therapist Karlien: “We have thirty psychologically vulnerable people aged 20 to 80. Six of them are street volunteers. It is also nice for them that they get appreciation from the neighborhood.”
And then there was fruit tart. Karim Bachar is proud of all 4,000 street volunteers. “As a city, you can do a lot to keep the streets in good condition, but litter remains a problem. So it is a wonderful thing when so many people take their responsibility. The participation of families with children is very important in that regard.”
More info can be found here† You can also call: 03-3383995.
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