Foyer believes strongly in projects that help us build bridges. In this project, various services got together with the police officer from zpz BruWest to get to know and understand each other better. After all, mutual understanding is the foundation of good relationships based on trust.
One of the project’s first successes is that a visit to the Migration Museum is now a standard part of the training for young recruits. After a general introduction by Johan Leman, the officers are given a guided tour of the museum to help them better understand the migration history of Brussels and Molenbeek. They then engage in conversation with youth workers from Foyer des Jeunes and Jongerenwerking Foyer. The youth workers explain how they interact with youngsters, how they build trust with them and how they try to help them. They give the officers tips on how to connect with youngsters and how to strengthen trust between youngsters and the police.
The police officers also engaged in conversation with the young people themselves. After all, who better to explain what they need, what their doubts or fears are, and how they experience contact with the police? Because a one-off meeting is not enough to build trust, a sports event was organised where the young people and officers could play sports together (not against each other). A meeting in a relaxed setting also creates a relaxed atmosphere.
The women of Dar Al Amal also met with some officers. They discussed communication between families, the police and local associations. The women shared their perspectives on the relationship between the police and young people from their perspective as mothers. In addition, the themes of “parental authority” and communication within the household were also discussed. Here, the women were offered tools for dealing with conflicts at home. Parents can have a major influence on young people’s perceptions of the police. The aim is for their children to see the police as a reliable partner and not as a threat.
The women themselves also raised issues that are important to them. The first point concerns accessible sources of information. Not all women have access to the internet, so physical and visible media remain important. One solution they suggested was to put up posters in police stations with telephone numbers and contact points they can turn to if necessary. Another suggestion concerned the development of initiatives for closer contact between the police and citizens. More joint activities or participatory elements could stimulate interaction and mutual trust. A final important point concerned the safety and management of Bonnevie Park.
During a consultation with the men’s group at Foyer, Atelier M, the emphasis was on how the men experienced contact with the police in their own youth and how they see this evolving with their children now. As in the conversation with Dar al Amal, the importance of the family and the “father figure” in the family was emphasised. Finally, the issue of safety in the neighbourhood was raised again.
The men and police officers considered together how they could improve this, what is important to local residents and what the men notice in their role as fathers.
Dialogue and mutual understanding were central to each conversation. The overall aim of the project is to prevent tensions between the police and young people and to work together to build a pleasant and safe atmosphere in the community. The project is a commitment on the part of both Foyer and the police, and we are very proud of this collaboration.
