Migration in Belgium

On March 7th-10th students in the Remember project went on a mobility to our partners in Hasselt, Belgium. The common thread in this week’s programme is the migration history in Belgium. 

In preparation of this week’s activities the Belgian pupils conducted a survey on the migration background of their fellow pupils and teachers at their school, they got a lecture about the migration history in Belgium in general and in the mining region (Limburg) in particular, they listened to a first generation migrant’s testimony and subsequently they looked up more information on the topic themselves. They shared the historical consciousness they thus acquired with the pupils of the partner schools in a presentation. This learning material was sent to the partner school prior to the mobility so their guests had some knowledge of the topic when coming to Belgium. The materials are also available here. 

The main activities during the mobility continued to build on this topic. First of all there was a panel discussion during which Tom Naegels, author of Nieuw België: Een migratiegeschiedenis 1944-1978 discussed his book’s topic and then 7 panelists, all first/second/third generation migrants (and of whom 3 former pupils) shared their experiences and opinions with the audience. The pupils, teachers and parents were then invited to ask questions or share their opinions with the others; it turned out to be a meaningful and useful conversation. 

The group also went to Brussels as a part of the mobility. There the pupils were guided through Molenbeek, one of the most multi-cultural parts of the capital city, and in Genk they watched Marina, a movie about the life of an Italian immigrant who became world famous. 

In Beringen the pupils visited the old mine sites since the mining industry was one of the key factors in our migration history. Later at school our guest studied their own migration history, compared it to the Belgian and turned this into a presentation that was shown to pupils, teachers and parents. In addition, they also presented their own country (geography, language, culture, history …) to the Belgian pupils of the fifth form. All these activities perfectly illustrated the previously acquired knowledge. 

Apart from these topic-related activities, the Belgian partner organized teambuilding activities and excursions so as to introduce the guests to Belgium and the Belgian way of life. 

Our friends at Parler Gymnasium in Germany was unable to join because of Corona restrictions at the time of the mobility.