Social and employment integration of new arrivals, the fight against social exclusion.

As a borough of the Brussels Capital Region with currently more than 78,000 inhabitants, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean has been faced since the nineteen seventies, with social, economic and urban-related difficulties associated in particular with the succession of economic crises and the impoverishment of the population. Since the beginning of the nineties, the municipal authorities, with the help of regional, federal and European entities, have initiated a comprehensive, integrated and ambitious revitalisation policy that is focused mainly on the neighbourhoods in the historical centre of the borough. In 2000, the borough had to cope with the mass arrival of asylum-seekers within its boundaries, associated with a campaign conducted by the federal government to settle people without official documents. As a result, 1880 settlement applications have been lodged in Molenbeek. The borough has since introduced a special reception service aimed at providing appropriate, integrated support for the needs of a population with a high level of deprivation in terms of social bonds, training and resources.

The project is the result of a partnership between the borough of Molenbeek, which handles the “socio-educational integration” aspect, and the Public Centre for Social Aid (CPAS) which handles the “socio-professional integration” aspect.Sampa relies on the services of local non-profit organisations. These include LES (Lutte contre l’exclusion sociale - Fight Against Social Exclusion) and AMIS (Local Molenbeek Mission).Close collaboration also exists between Sampa and the various local government departments (borough schools, local social services, citizens’ advice bureau, CPAS, etc.) which also act as staging posts for passing on information about the existence of this service.

In 2000, Molenbeek created SAMPA, a service aimed at meeting the needs of the population in the area of promoting the integration of vulnerable, newly-arrived  people. This service includes two types of monitoring and supervision: socio-educational support via an appropriate form of reception, language courses and school catch-up courses, psychological support, etc. and socio-professional guidance, making it possible to provide individualised coaching for people in their search for jobs and training.Between the end of 2000 and the beginning of 2005, 3,000 new arrivals have benefited from Sampa guidance and supervision.

New arrivals in the borough.

Public subsidy (Federal Belgian Political Programme for Large Towns and Cities)

SAMPA
Lindsey Laroche, tel. +3224220646

31/12/2000

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Social services