Portraits of refugees adorn the escalator of the pedestrian tunnel: “So grateful that I also want to live as a Belgian” (Left Bank)

260 refugees are accommodated in the Red Cross center on the Left Bank. They come from all over the world, more than thirty different nationalities. The reception center’s 25th anniversary this year will be celebrated on September 14. If special guests All ex-residents, but also ex-employees, are invited.

To draw attention to their operation and the diverse people they accommodate, various portraits have been hung along the escalators of the pedestrian tunnel.

Children and grandchildren

Hasim Al Jebori is 65 years old and arrived in Antwerp two years ago. “It has been unsafe there for years since the new government in Iraq. Important and highly educated people are being murdered: doctors, engineers, you name it. I lived there in constant fear. It was such a beautiful country before.”

Eight years ago, Hasim sent his children to Belgium. “My son is 24 years old and has just completed his studies as an engineer.” The pride for his children is great. “My daughter lived in Merksem for a long time, but moved to Tessenderlo. I still see her every week, together with her three beautiful children.”

Hasim talks fondly about his family. It was with pain in his heart that he was left alone in Iraq. “I didn’t have enough money to go. And my health wouldn’t allow it. But now I keep myself healthy by cycling to my son who lives on the Meir every day.”

Respect

Sherin (37) and her daughter Rimas (19) fled from Gaza to Belgium two years ago. “We had felt tension building for years. I couldn’t hold it anymore, so we left. But our family is still stuck there. Sometimes we don’t hear from them for a few days because they no longer have an internet connection. Then we have to wait anxiously until they give a sign of life again.”

Rimas is convinced that she wants to stay in Antwerp, but for Sherin it may be outside the center to really immerse herself in Belgian culture.

“I love Belgians very much. They have the same values ​​and standards that we hold in high regard in Islam. Even though it is a different religion, those rules of respect are really the same, especially the respect for women. I often feel like I’m not changing enough if I hang out with Arab people too much. I am so grateful and happy that I can be here in Belgium, I want to live and think like a Belgian.”

They both have their own ways of working here in Belgium. Rimas hoped to be able to do that through her hobby. “In Gaza it was certainly not obvious for a girl to play football. I really cherished that dream of being able to play football here in Europe without any worries. And that’s what it seemed like at first. But unfortunately I have to experience that the world, even in Belgium, is not yet really open to girls playing football.”

To help

Albert Foyet (39) is from Cameroon. He arrived in our country only three months ago. “I have learned to live from day to day. I am grateful for every day I get. I am grateful to be in Antwerp. Am I going to stay here in Antwerp? What are my future plans? I got here by fate and I don’t know what else fate has in store for me.”

Albert does not say a word about his family and his country of origin. He does not look to the past, but also not to the future. “Luckily they speak two languages ​​in Belgium and I speak French. Still, I want to do everything I can to learn Dutch. It’s an opportunity I’ve been given and I’m not going to let it go. I am very happy with the assistants who help us in the center and if my Dutch is perfect, I would also like to help customers.”

“I used to work in a casino. I did everything there from security to croupier, but I also showed the customers the games they did not understand. So helping people is really in me.”