1. Agenda
Observations
SINGA Movement
SINGA in Belgium
Why support SINGA?

2. Observations No Social Network Knowledge of cultural aspects
Language Learning
Knowledge of cultural aspects
Access to common information
Access to education
Access to estate markets
Access to job markets

3. Practice national languages
Observations
Opportunities
Practice national languages
Get out of isolation
Build a social network

4. 〈 First bond : Passions〉
SINGA Movement
Singa = “Bond” in lingala
Creating bonds, opportunities to meet newcomers and people from the hosting society.
Missions
Inform: Raise awareness and shift society’s perception of refugees and their role in society.
Interact: Create opportunities for connecting newcomers and locals.
Innovate: Offer innovative approaches for socio-economic inclusion and solutions to overcome the challenges faced by newcomers.
〈 First bond : Passions〉

5. BUDDY PROGRAM
Making matches between two people based on common interests.
Benefits
Practicing national languages
Understanding socio-cultural codes
Discovering the city
Developing their social networks
Number of buddies created
95 pairs (190 persons) that meet twice a month.

6. Number of activities developed
Activities in Brussels developed by and for members of SINGA.
Benefits
Practice of national languages
Transmission of knowledge
Development of an entrepreneurial spirit
Valorization of potentials
Recovery of self-confidence
Creation of a social network
Number of activities developed
18 types of activities carried out by 60 members allowing SINGA to propose 5 different activities per week.

7. THE MATTER OF HOUSING CALM= Comme A La Maison
Recurrent problem for refugees
Asylum seekers’ centre to private housing
When decision comes: maximum 4 months to find accommodation.
Refugees encounter many obstacles in their housing search: trust is key in any owner/ tenant relationship.
A person of reference can make all the (good!) difference
CALM=
Comme A La Maison
Temporary co-housing
One refugee at one local’s home from 3 to 12 months
Partnerships with existing social and public housing actors.

8. The SINGA Belgian Community
95 buddies
18 kinds of activities
650 members
60 workshop developers
250 activity sessions
6 team members including 4 trainees
A lot of smiles!

9. Why support SINGA? After one year in Belgium, SINGA
Is considered a trusted actor in social inclusion by the sector
Has an impact on the social network of newcomers
Builds a constructive opinion of newcomers through real life encounters => fewer stereotypes.
Succeeds in allowing citizens to contribute to reducing an atmosphere of fear
By supporting SINGA, the Legal Run 2019 effort will directly fund the development of the CALM project specifically:
Providing 40 refugees with a safe and decent place to stay and start their life in Belgium
Speeding up & facilitating searches for a permanent homes
Training 80 people on intercultural understanding and administrative procedures (mainly focused on housing)
Significantly impacting the social inclusion of 40 refugees (through language learning and teaching an understanding of socio-cultural codes)