About us
The Beginning
We were founded on the first day of the pandemic and the name 'Help Centre Belgium' was registered on March 17, 2020. Our initial actions were supported by the Regional Office of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship with the approval of the Voivode Marshal. In the following weeks, we received support from the Belgian governmental organization Cocof (Commission communautaire française). In the early days, we started as a group of four friends and quickly became a group of almost 100 people providing supoort during the lockdown in Belgium.
Our teams were sewing masks for Brussels municipalities, operating a 24/7 helpline, and engaging in field activities to assist Polish families and homeless individuals who had no external support. Our Covid-19 related activities concluded in May 2020.
The initial actions of our organization revolved around an incredible surge of the Polish community in Belgium.
During the first weeks of the pandemic, Belgium was under lockdown, and society had restrictions concerning outside activities, including a complete ban on leaving homes. Nevertheless, a huge group of people emerged sewing masks for the Brussels communes and the Liege region, producing face shields, and providing food support for families in need and lonely individuals. From day one, we set up helplines consisting of 55 individuals across these departments: main, healthcare, spiritual support, support for women affected by domestic violence, operating 24/7.
It was an extraordinary time that built a unique community and contributed to the establishment of our organization.
The Elections of 2020
The 2020 Elections presented new challenges for the Polish community in Belgium. Delayed postal voting system in Belgium caused a lack of proper access to voting. Along with a group of volunteers from the headquarters, we set out on journeys across Belgium, which resulted in increasing voter turnout by 7.8% in two rounds of elections.
Providing Assistance to the Homeless
The first lockdown in Belgium made it that the access to first aid for homeless individuals, often those of Polish descent, was limited. In response, at the heart of Brussels, near Grand Place, we established a unique assistance center during the fall and winter of 2020-2021, marking the inaugural Christmas Help campaign. It was the first volunteer activity of our team on such a large scale, all in one place. Thousands of food packs, clothes and hot meals were distributed, thanks to great support from the Polish community in Belgium and partnering Polish stores.