Hundreds of refugees get to know the port of Antwerp with a pleasure boat: “Ideal to discover our country, and each other” | Antwerp
ANTWERPAs general director of the KOV comprehensive school in Vilvoorde, he has previously taken care of Ukrainian children, but Johan van Engelant is also personally committed to female refugees in our country. He brings them together through excursions so that they can get to know the country and each other better. On Saturday afternoon, about a hundred Ukrainians were given a tour of the port of Antwerp by boat. “Those people fled from war, depending on some women and children, they don’t know anyone here, this way I will bring them together.”
Johan van Engelant (57) has a personal relationship with Ukraine. He likes to travel and has seen a lot of the world. In his own words, he feels most at home in Eastern Europe. “It is a beautiful region with beautiful people,” says Johan. “It is a side of Europe that may not be very popular with us as a travel destination, but there are so many pearls to discover.”
It therefore felt like his duty to do something for refugees when the war broke out. “With our school community in Vilvoorde we have already taken care of many children and we have a special one OKAN class established for adult newcomers”, says Johan even as general manager of KOV.
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But he also wants to contribute personally. “For example, I have collected a lot of goods to send in the direction of the border and I organize excursions here in Flanders and Brussels, so that our newcomers can get to know the country better. And each other.”
City trips
Johan therefore counts on the goodwill of others. During the first excursion, for example, he was able to visit the toy museum in Mechelen for young mothers and their children for free. St Rumbold’s Cathedral was also visited together with the archbishop. ascending Johan also organizes city trips to Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. And now, with the port, it is also Antwerp’s turn, where Johan himself lives.
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“Still the most important point of the city, the gateway to the world”, probably Johan. “Thanks to Philip De Perst, we can call on a pleasure boat from Flandria with which we can maintain the tour on the water. Meanwhile, the refugees here already have some money that can earn each other, and I ask a very low entrance fee for the trip. The proceeds will go to charities that support Ukraine.”
The excursions are not only intended to get to know the country, but also to let the refugees come into contact with each other. “Those people have gone to war, depending on a few women and children, they don’t know anyone here. In this way I hope to increase their social contact.”
Front side
Johan was very touched after the tour. “A young lad was happy that the proceeds from the trip were used, among other things, to buy relief supplies for the soldiers at the front,” he says. to sail.”
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