Programme of Study Visits on Wednesday Afternoon, April 2

Take a look at the offer of study visits to various volunteer organizations in Mechelen and make your choice. We ensure a combination of at least two themes per visit. The explanation will cover the organization's general approach and volunteer work in particular, with ample time for questions. The explanations are done in English.

All congress participants can sign up for 1 visit at the bottom of this page.

Starting point: Everyone departs from Cinema Lumière Mechelen - city cinema around 2 PM.

End point: Everyone returns to the center of Mechelen between 5 PM and 6 PM, in time for the networking aperitif at 6 PM in Kunsthal Mechelen.

1. Cycling Tour through Mechelen's Nature and Culture

Cycle with the Fietsersbond through Mechelen's nature and culture. During this tour, you will visit:

The visitor center of Natuurpunt Mechels Rivierengebied (Muizen). Natuurpunt is an independent volunteer organization that ensures the protection of vulnerable and endangered nature in Flanders. If the weather is good, you will take a short walk along the Dyle River. The volunteer work of Natuurpunt focuses on nature management, conservation, and accessibility.
Despot Rato is the new home of five heritage partners in Mechelen: Museum Hof van Busleyden, Stadsarchief Mechelen, Het Predikheren, Projecten en Monumenten, and Erfgoedcel Mechelen. They store their collections together in the depot and further develop their activities, thanks to numerous enthusiastic volunteers.
The volunteers of the Fietsersbond guide this bike tour to and from the center of Mechelen. They will explain their own volunteer work at a few stops. The Fietsersbond is an independent member association that provides advice and campaigns for a bicycle-friendly policy.

Note: Active tour, ensure you wear suitable clothing and walking shoes. Bicycles are provided. We recommend signing up for this tour only if you have enough cycling experience.

Location: Starting point at 1:45 PM at Cinema Lumière Mechelen.

2. Circular Economy and Elderly Care

Sharing tools, bicycles, seeds, care, and much more, together and with each other. Learn more about the Tool, Bicycle, and Seed Library in and around the residential care center Hof van Egmont.

Deelbaar Mechelen is an initiative of enthusiastic volunteers with a heart for social and inclusive projects, aiming for a circular sharing economy. In this way, they contribute to a better society.
Residential care center Hof Van Egmont strives to provide a pleasant living and residential environment for the elderly. They offer their residents tailored care. To create and enjoy this warm place, volunteers lend a helping hand. They play an indispensable role, contributing to the feeling of home, relaxation, and social contacts.
During this visit, you will also have the opportunity to chat with the residents and volunteers and participate in a game of pétanque.

3. Circular Human Work and Cultural Connection

La Luna and Foodsavers Mechelen work together to combat food waste and collaborate closely with various social organizations. They are committed to circular human work, where you can visit the neighborhood store (with low prices) for a chat and a cup of coffee.
A wide range of art activities can be found at Sjarabang vzw. They are an inclusive creative workshop that promotes art and cultural participation for people with intellectual or multiple disabilities, both actively and passively.
During this study visit, they would like to immerse you in their creative and inclusive world.

Note: Short transfer of 15 minutes to the second organization.
Location: Starting point at 2 PM at Cinema Lumière Mechelen, ending at 5 PM.

4. Exploring the Vibrant Neighborhood Heihoek and mARTa

Take a walk through the vibrant, versatile neighborhood Heihoek, located in the center, and discover developments around the themes of culture, greening, poverty, and social cohesion, and the role volunteers play in these. Together, residents strive to improve social contact, green spaces, artistic and cultural activities. All of this to make it a better and cozier place for everyone to live together.
During the walk, we will also visit the former Heilig Hart Church in Adegemstraat. After a participatory project, it has been transformed into a new cultural hotspot in the heart of Mechelen, under the catchy name mARTa.

Note: Active tour, walk along various stops in the neighborhood.
Location: Starting point at 2 PM at Cinema Lumière Mechelen, ending at 5 PM.

5. Present and Past: Heritage and Culture

Visit to the City Archives and the Predikheren Library. Discover the past and the present.

The Predikheren is a 17th-century baroque monastery recently converted into a heritage complex and library. It is a meeting place for the neighborhood, the city, and the world. With a gastronomic restaurant, coffee bar, cultural performance and exhibition space, and co-working space, it guarantees dynamism, all in close cooperation with volunteers.
The city archives of Mechelen is a historical documentation center and repository of Mechelen's archival heritage. You can conduct research in archives on people, houses, families, visual material, and much more. Volunteers are daily engaged in digitizing and inventorying. Their efforts contribute to new research, the discovery of historically relevant information, and the overall completion of the tasks of the City Archives. Learn all about it during this tour.

Location: Starting point at 2 PM at Cinema Lumière Mechelen, ending at 5 PM.

6. Youth

On this study visit, we will take you through the complete transformation of the youth site Transit M. From a deserted hangout to a trendy location with many facilities.
We will walk past Circolito, where you will learn more about the wonderful world of circus and spectacular tricks by artists, both young and old. They also collaborate with the European Solidarity Corps.
Additionally, the youth department of the City of Mechelen and the youth council will provide an explanation of how the site underwent a true metamorphosis, taking into account the needs of the people of Mechelen to make it a successful project together.

Note: Dress for possible rain and wear comfortable shoes; it is about a twenty-minute walk from the center.

Location: Starting point at 2 PM at Cinema Lumière Mechelen, ending at 5 PM.

7. Mobility and cultural experiences

Vier het Leven organizes cultural activities such as theater, concerts, movies and museum visits for elderly people who do not want to or cannot go independently. Volunteers accompany them from their homes to the activity so they can enjoy culture together.

Klimavelo is an initiative of the civic movement Klimaan vzw, which in Mechelen focuses on promoting sustainable initiatives and addressing climate change. In Mechelen, Klimaan works with local initiatives and volunteers to make positive changes, such as energy savings, renewable energy and other climate projects. This is done through a network of enterprising people joining forces for a more sustainable future. Klimavelo is a sub-project in which volunteer pilots use their bicycle cabs to transport residents from door to door.

Note: Session accessible for less mobile people, no walking included.
Location: Starting point at 2 PM in Cinema Lumière Mechelen.

8. Life through a Different Lens

Mechelen residents dedicated to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) come together in the global council. They are very active and committed to world solidarity, collaborations with organizations, and schools.
"Life through a Circular Lens" is the slogan behind the project Refaced and Eyes for the World. They strongly believe that everyone, all over the world, has the right to good vision and affordable glasses.
Finally, the members of the Mechelen Senior Council will take us on a tour of their city advisory council for and by people aged 60 and over, who are committed to making the city age-friendly.

Note: A 20-minute walk there and a 20-minute walk back.
Location: City hall of Mechelen (Kolommenzaal STH.2.44, Grote Markt 21) + Brillenatelier (Battelsesteenweg 48, 2800 Mechelen)

9. Mechelen, an Inclusive City: A Podcast Walk

This podcast walk Mechelen, an Inclusive City can be started independently and will lead you through our Dyle city. Along the way, you will get to know various Mechelen initiatives that are locally committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities. The walk takes about 2 hours.

Note: Bring a mobile phone, internet connection, and earphones. You can follow the tour in both Dutch and English. The walk is 6 kilometers long; comfortable shoes are recommended.

Location: Starting point Grote Markt, Mechelen