Flanders honours displaced Ukrainians in Brussels
The Flemish Agency for Integration and Civic Integration has on Friday honoured 105 temporarily displaced Ukrainians in Brussels. The Flemish region thus celebrates the successful integration of Ukrainians residing in Brussels, after almost four years of war.
The integration ceremony took place on Friday afternoon in the presence of Flemish minister for Brussels Cieltje Van Achter. The minister presented the Ukrainians with a certificate as proof of their integration. Brussels state secretary Ans Persoons was also present. Flemish minister for integration Hilde Crevits sent her congratulations via a video message.
Specifically, the integration ceremony concerns Ukrainians who have been living in Brussels since 2023 and have successfully completed an integration programme at the Flemish government's reception office for integration participants in Brussels (Bon). More than 290 Ukrainians received an invitation to the ceremony, and around 100 of them attended. The temporarily displaced persons received a separate integration offer from Flanders, with tailor-made Dutch language lessons and more personalised guidance.
The successful integration of these Ukrainians is the result of cooperation between Bon and the Ukrainian Voices Refugee Committee. “In recent years, a good collaboration and a strong bond have developed, enabling Bon to quickly scale up its services for the target group,” stated the Flemish Agency for Integration and Civic Integration.
“Those who choose Dutch are choosing a future with more opportunities in Brussels,” minister Cieltje Van Achter added. “The commitment of these temporarily displaced Ukrainians shows how language can build bridges between communities. Every day, they demonstrate that learning Dutch is not only a choice for progress, but also a choice for connection with Brussels and the Flemish community.”
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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