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Starting next year, the city of Ghent in Belgium will use its budget to finance and boost social initiatives that promote the well-being and equal opportunities of the citizens. They will spend 100,000 euros annually through the new pioneer budget. In addition, from this year on, a total of 750,000 euros will fund 24 organisations in Ghent focused on social action.
In the past year, Ghent has seen an explosion of civic organisations, aimed at helping those who are particularly vulnerable. The city wants to do its best to support these fine examples of grassroots solidarity.
Gent Solidair is a fine example. They provide free meals and delivery for people in need and they generate the bulk of their budget through donations.
Burgerplicht Gent (Civic Duty Ghent) is another one. They are an organisation from the Turkish community of Ghent, which wants to take a greater part in the city’s development promoting inclusivity and solidarity.
It is such initiatives that can receive extra support from 2022 through the pioneer budget. In addition, start-up organizations can also receive additional administrative and legal support.
The organisations were not chosen at random. They were put through a vetting process to prioritise their financing. The vetting was organised by the Universities of Ghent, Antwerp and Leuven and carried out through participatory practical research.
Astrid De Bruycker, Equal Opportunities Alderman was quoted in a press release by the city, saying: “From low-threshold reception for vulnerable families to meeting opportunities for non-binary people: the social society in Ghent is as diverse as its population. After extensive research and consultation moments, we are now strengthening this civil society in a well-considered way.“
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