Flanders: Minister proposes youth movements for immigrants
Via brusselnieuws.be:
Flemish minister Pascal Smet (SP.A) is considering starting a special youth movement for and by immigrants. This after the Council of Europe concluded that the existing youth movements are not succeeding in bringing together Flemish and immigrant youth.
The Felmish youth movement are split on the issue. Jill Marchantof Chiro Brussels says that it's not a good idea and immigrant youth should be placed in the existing youth movements. Marchant worked with the BINT project for teenag girls from Molenbeek who wanted to be counselors. Chiro Youth of Flanders says that separte youth movements means giving up on the idea of real coexistence in society. They say that instead the existing groups should be more open to experimination and to being truly open for immigrant children. 14% of their members are of non-Belgian origin.
The Scouts movement in Flanders said they're aware of the problem and can understand Smet's proposal. The immigrant and traditional youth movement should cooperate together and the latter should be open for diversity.
