Young asylum seekers allowed to volunteer in Belgium

Young asylum seekers will get the chance to volunteer in Belgium, and young Belgians will be able to work in reception centres, state secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor announced on Monday. Fedasil, the agency responsible for the reception of asylum seekers, will work with the non-profit Citizen Service.

"Young asylum seekers are often very motivated and want to contribute," de Moor said. "Through our cooperation with Citizen Service, they get the chance to volunteer. This way, they can gain experience and improve their knowledge of our language."

Citizen Service offers young people aged between 18 and 25 the chance to volunteer for six months at one of its 800 member organisations. Last year, more than 600 young people were enlisted as volunteers.

Fedasil and Citizen Service have already worked together on a small scale in Wallonia and Brussels. The new cooperation agreement extends that cooperation to many more reception centres. "This is a cooperation that benefits young people and society," de Moor said.

^{Ukrainian refugees waiting for an appointment in a reception centre in Brussels © KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP}