IOM Belgium and Luxembourg

⚡ FLASH UPDATE ⚡    1️⃣ The Connect and Create programme is an initiative led by the Goethe-Institut e.V. and Expertise France, in partnership with the Institut français and with the support of the European Union. It aims to support the dissemination and circulation of African artistic creations in Africa and Europe, through financial assistance for organizing tours or programming within major international events. 📅DEADLINE: 30/11/2025, 23:59 CET  ℹ More information: https://bit.ly/4p19fz2 2️⃣ This artistic intervention by the CNN199 collective tells the story of graffiti, rooted in the streets of Brussels from the late 1980s to the present day, exploring different styles and media from paper to screen. For one month, this space will become a place where artists can express their imagination without restraint. 📅 16/10/2025 - 16/11/2025, Wednesday - Sunday, 11:00 - 18:00 CET  📍 Espace Vanderborght, Brussels  ℹ Registration necessary: https://www.cnn360.org/ 3️⃣ This November, Queer Asian Month is back for its third edition! It is a celebration of queer Asian resilience, creativity and joy. Expect a full month of storytelling, drag, safer spaces, movement, film, conversations and collective healing. The events are open to queer Asians and allies and take place across Brussels and Leuven, covering topics such as mental health, queer joy, drag, heritage celebration, anti-harassment, and intersectionality.  📅 02/11/2025 - 29/11/2025  📍 Various locations across Leuven and Brussels  ℹ Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3LsNlWP 4️⃣ In Europe, we often view the Middle East through Western lenses. These lenses determine what we see – and what we overlook. But which stories remain hidden? Which voices are excluded? This series aims to open up different perspectives. It explores forgotten histories, untold stories and ethical dilemmas that do not fit into the dominant framework. Over the course of four evenings, they will search for deeper and more polyphonic ways of understanding the Middle East.  📅 30/10/2025 - 27/11/2025, 19:30 - 22:00 CET  📍 Muntpunt, Muntplein, Brussels  ℹ https://lnkd.in/epM3wXne 5️⃣ The photo exhibition #StopEcocideUkraine showcases the destruction of Ukraine’s ecosystems caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion. The exhibition also features artifacts from UAnimals’ evacuation missions, documenting the devastating impact of the war on Ukraine’s nature. Its purpose is to raise awareness of Russia’s environmental crimes in Ukraine and to promote the recognition of ecocide as a crime under international and European law.  📅 08/11/2025 - 14/11/2025, Tuesday - Sunday, 13:00 - 17:30 CET  📍 Rue de la Loi 89, 1040 Brussels  ℹ Exhibition open to everyone, register for the opening event with film screening today! https://bit.ly/4os2QNc   #diasporaengagement #flashupdate #opportunities 

🎉 📢 We’re proud to welcome the newest members of our Diaspora Advisory Board (DAB)!    The DAB is a co-creation network that brings together diaspora members and IOM Belgium and Luxembourg to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on impactful initiatives.   In 2026, the DAB will focus on key topics such as: ✔ Education, Culture & Sports ✔ Employment, Skills & Entrepreneurship ✔ Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development ✔ Other priorities for IOM and diaspora communities   Our new members bring diverse expertise, strong leadership skills and fresh perspectives that will help shape impactful initiatives and strengthen collaboration across communities. We look forward to working together to create meaningful change and amplify diaspora voices! 🤝 #diasporaengagement #diasporaadvisoryboard #community Dr. Queenie Kessie, Giselle M. Musabimana, Mahsa Rahimi, Begüm Dereli, Lamine D., Aurélie Disasi, Babken Grigoryan, Chantelle Juanita Motsi, Latifah Abdou (she/her), Dawod Obad, Noura Kaddaoui, Juan Pablo Guayacan H, kinda khazaal, Muhammad Najeem Zarabi, Marie-Cécile Muyer

👋 Meet Waleed: RISE Community Ambassador and president of Yemeni Forum! 🇾🇪   When Waleed first arrived in Belgium, he felt alone and uncertain, which is an experience many newcomers can relate to. Now, he’s using his journey to empower others to feel at home through Community Sponsorship. 💪   Together with Yemeni Forum, IOM is partnering with diaspora communities to mobilize volunteers who can support refugees through shared language, culture, and lived experiences as part of a sponsor group.   💬 Want to learn more about how diaspora communities are making a difference? Join our RISE webinar “ Strengthening Community Sponsorship (CS) through Diaspora Engagement” on November 12, 10:00–11:30 CET.   🔗 Register via the link in the comments!   The RISE project is co-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2021–2027) #RISE #CommunitySponsorship #Webinar #RefugeesWelcome

🧑💻 Building digital resilience together!   On Tuesday, we welcomed Kristof Tuyteleers and Sophie Dings of DNS Belgium for an insightful workshop on cybersecurity and digital resilience, tailored for our diaspora community leaders and members of our Diaspora Advisory Board (DAB).   💡Through an open and insightful exchange, participants learned about: ✅The growing scope of cybercrime and the trafficking networks behind it through real-world examples; ✅ Practical ways to prevent scams and how to respond effectively if you or someone you know is targeted; ✅ How to start conversations about cyber awareness within your family and community.   Migrants and diaspora are especially vulnerable to scams related to remittances and investments. With the global remittance industry expected to continue soaring well into 2032, it’s more important than ever to empower diaspora and migrants to be aware of and prevent scammers from getting access to their money.   We extend our sincere appreciation to DNS Belgium, the not-for-profit managing the .be, .brussels, and .vlaanderen domains, for this collaboration and commitment to our shared goal of building a safe, trusted, and inclusive digital space for all.   🔗 Learn more about how to stay safe on the internet: https://lnkd.in/eGDAcp_Z #workshop #diasporaengagement #cybersecurity #digitalresilience

💬 “The road may be long, but with resilience, the right support, and belief in yourself, it is possible to start again.” Meet Adelina!   After struggling with unstable work and poor living conditions in North Macedonia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adelina and her husband made the difficult decision to seek a better future in Belgium. Their journey was filled with hope, and soon after arriving, they welcomed their daughter, Lira.   Due to unforeseen administrative hurdles and the annulment of their residence permits, the family faced legal uncertainty and emotional stress. They decided to return to North Macedonia.   Back home, the family received reintegration assistance to equip their home with essential items and care for Lira. Adelina also enrolled in a remote training programme in Accounting and Financial Control, balancing her studies with family life.   Today, Adelina applies her new skills as a freelancer from home, while her husband moved back to his job in construction. Their story is one of resilience, rebuilding, and hope for a brighter future.   Adelina was assisted by the AVRR programme from IOM Belgium and Luxembourg, funded by the EU and co-funded by Fedasil   #humanstories #voluntaryreturn #reintegration

📢 Last chance to register for the first session of the GuardianXchange Thematic Webinar Series on supporting unaccompanied minors’ transition to adulthood! Through the GuardianXchange project, IOM and partners in five EU countries address challenges, refine policy frameworks, and advance guardianship practices to ensure consistent, high-quality protection for unaccompanied children. To share our insights, we’re convening experts, practitioners, and policymakers in a thematic webinar series on how to strengthen guardianship systems across Europe, in collaboration with the European Guardianship Network.   Now is your last chance to register for the first session of this series on the 4th of November. This session presents the Flemish Red Cross approach in developing a hands‑on tool for guardians to create such a structure. Join us to explore a tool and vision that put young people’s strengths, goals and networks at the centre - so preparation becomes a shared, formalised plan that lasts beyond guardianship - illustrated with real case studies and space to discuss best practices.   Interested? Make sure to also check out our other two sessions on the 9th of December and the 13th of January! 👀   ➡️ Register now to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/e858Cw6D. You can sign up for individual sessions or the full series. GuardianXchange is funded by the European Union through the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF). #guardianship #unaccompaniedminors #protection

⚡ FLASH UPDATE ⚡ 1️⃣ Digital for Youth supports any project that contributes to the development of the digital skills of vulnerable young people by providing computers and financial support. Organisations and associations with an educational project that want to support vulnerable young people between the ages of 6 and 25 to improve their digital skills can apply. The support may relate to basic digital skills, more advanced digital skills (coding, programming) or media literacy.  📅DEADLINE: 30/12/2025  ℹ More information: https://lnkd.in/e4S7xA_Z      2️⃣ Africalia invites you to celebrate Afro-descendant creativity! As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, Les Apéros de la Diversité welcomes Afro-descendant creators for an ‘Apéro de la creativité’. During this exchange, they will explore the cultural expressions of artists from the diaspora and how and why to amplify their voices within the Belgian cultural landscape. 📅 06/11/2025, 17:30 CET  📍 Hotel Juliana, Place des Martyrs, Brussels  ℹRegistration necessary: https://bit.ly/4npNJ5M 3️⃣ Nana Benz is a collective of three young Antwerp residents who want to promote the experience of African culture among the Belgian diaspora. The Diaspora Tables brings people together to share stories, flavours and experiences. With African dishes, inspiring conversations and a warm atmosphere. An initiative by and for the community, where connection is key. This Sunday, join them for the first edition of their Sunday Comedy Diaspora Tables!  📅 26/10/2025, 14:00 CET  📍 Arenberg, Antwerp  ℹ Register here: https://bit.ly/4qpVf33 4️⃣ Frames of Us is the result of a participatory process in which four young creators explored themes such as storytelling, scenography and photography. The series of images shows intimate fragments of their daily lives and forms a visual archive of Black presence in Brussels. Although it starts from Black perspectives, it reflects themes that resonate universally: life, dreams, relationships and everyday experiences that connect us all.  📅 16/10/2025 - 30/10/2025  📍 Zsenne Art Lab, Anneessensstraat 2, 1000 Brussels  ℹ https://bit.ly/43BZH51 5️⃣ Photographs are essential in making less visible conflicts visible. They capture what would otherwise go unnoticed and ensure that the world knows what is happening. The exhibition 'Crises oubliées' (Forgotten Crises) highlights several dramatic humanitarian situations that are too often absent from public debate, through the eyes of 4 photojournalists. The project is being carried out in partnership with Search for Common Ground, Caritas international and Justice & Paix.  📅 02/10/2025 - 28/11/205  📍 Centre Geopolis Brussels, Rue des Tanneurs 58a, 1000 Brussels  ℹ https://lnkd.in/dNs7BV9v    #diasporaengagement #flashupdate #opportunities 

From finding safe and decent housing to fostering social inclusion and strengthening cultural ties, diaspora groups are key to helping refugees build new lives. Yet, their unique contributions often remain underrecognized.   Join our upcoming RISE webinar: “Strengthening Community Sponsorship (CS) through Diaspora Engagement” to explore how we can work together to make Community Sponsorship stronger and more inclusive.   🗓️ When: Wednesday, 12 November | 10:00–11:30 (CET) 💻 Where: MS Teams – link & registration in comments   On the agenda: 🔹 Key insights from Belgium on diaspora engagement in CS 🔹 Strategies to mobilize diaspora communities 🔹 The role of diaspora in refugee integration 🔹 Co-designed training tools with diaspora-based sponsors 🔹 Interactive discussion & Q&A   🎙️With experts from: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) • International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC)/Share Network • NADOE - Network of Afghanistan Diaspora Organisations in Europe • Umbrella Refugee Committee (URC) • Cameroon Union Flanders (CUF) • South West Somali Community in Belgium (SWSC)   Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and strengthen collaboration! 🤝   The RISE project is co-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (2021–2027) #RISE #CommunitySponsorship #Webinar #RefugeesWelcome

👉 Join us on Thursday, 20 November 2025 for a roundtable on labour mobility from Pakistan to Belgium, focused on the construction, healthcare, industry, and technical sectors! Organized by IOM and Embuild Vlaanderen, with the support of Voka-Vlaams netwerk van ondernemingen and FEB - Federation of Enterprises in Belgium, this event is reserved for: employers, federations, chambers of commerce, and sectoral funds. Meet a high-level Pakistani delegation, including representatives from the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development and explore how Pakistan’s skilled workforce can answer Belgium’s labour market needs. 📍 Location: Embuild Vlaanderen, Avenue des Arts/Kunstlaan 20,1000 Brussels  🕘 Time: 9.00–16.00 (lunch & networking included)  📩 RSVP now by sending an email to [email protected]  📢  Know someone who might be interested? Share this with your network! #LabourMobility #Talent #Construction #Healthcare #TechnicalJobs #PakistanBelgium  #SkilledWorkers #RoundtableEvent 

📍 Study Visit Highlights – Strengthening Migrant Protection Together   Earlier this month, diaspora community leaders participating in IOM’s training programme on migrant protection and assistance in Belgium took part in an insightful study visit across Brussels.   The day was packed with learning and exchange, starting with a visit to PAG-ASA, where leaders learned about support services for victims of human trafficking. This was followed by a stop at the Fedasil Return Desk, which provides guidance to migrants considering voluntary return.   💡 After a wonderful lunch at the refugee-led Refoodgees, the group explored the Bordet Info Point, a vital hub offering informational, legal and medical support to people seeking international protection, transmigrants, and irregular migrants. The day concluded at the Ukrainian Voices Refugee Committee Emergency Shelter, where participants saw firsthand how temporary refuge and pathways to housing are provided by a refugee-led team.   🙏 A heartfelt thank you to PAG-ASA, Fedasil, and the Ukrainian Voices Refugee Committee & Umbrella Refugee Committee for opening their doors and sharing their expertise.   This study visit is part of IOM’s CONEX project, implemented in partnership with Fedasil and the Conex network, and financed by Fedasil.   #MigrantProtection #DiasporaEngagement #CommunityLeaders