Become a Buddy
make a new friend, share your culture, and discover Brussels in a whole new way!
The Buddy Program brings together a local person and a newcomer to Brussels, giving them the opportunity to (re)discover the city of Brussels and SINGA’s community together.
For 3 months, the pair commits to meeting every two weeks!
1,000+ BUDDY PAIRS SUPPORTED SINCE 2017
A meaningful commitment…
The Buddy Program helps build a more inclusive, open, and caring society.
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For newcomers
Having a buddy provides a point of reference in your new home. It’s an opportunity to discover the city alongside someone who knows it well and can share their favourite spots, tips, and practical information!
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For locals
The programme is a meaningful way to actively contribute to welcoming and including newcomers in Brussels while building strong personal connections.
everyone can find their place
The program also gives everyone the opportunity to feel included and find their place within the SINGA community.
For those who might hesitate to join SINGA activities on their own, it’s also a chance to explore them together with a buddy. As a buddy, you also have the opportunity to take part in meetings between buddies and meet the other buddy pairs participating in the program!
This commitment also encourages intercultural and language exchange, as buddies come from all over the world and speak a wide range of languages. Some are very comfortable speaking English or French, while others a bit less, but buddy pairs always find a way to communicate. This exchange is also what makes the experience so meaningful!
Horizontal relationships are at the heart of the program. At SINGA, there is no helper/helped dynamic: everyone lives a unique human experience and learns more about themselves and the world around them.
Sharing, learning and growing together : that’s what the Buddy programme is all about!
Are your ready to become a buddy?
It’s very simple! Here’s how it works!
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Registration
I fill out the Buddy form so that the team can learn more about me and match me with someone who is a good fit for me.
The team contacts me to talk about my commitment and answer any questions I may have before I get started!
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Meet-up
The team presents the profile of the person who could be a good match for me (gender, age, languages, interests, expectations, availability, etc.).
Depending on my availability, we arrange a first meeting at a café with my buddy and a member of the Buddy Team.
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Commitment & Follow-up
Following this meeting, we commit to doing activities together regularly for 3 months.
We suggest activities or outings to each other and make sure everyone feels included in the SINGA community and in Brussels.
SINGA remains available to answer any questions throughout my commitment!
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What’s next ?
At the end of the 3 months, your Buddy commitment comes to an end.
Of course, if you’ve built a great connection with your buddy, you can suggest staying in touch and continuing to see each other!
An engagement that fits you …
The Buddy engagement is flexible: available at night, on weekends, sporty or crafty activity… The objective is to create an engagement adapted to your preferences and schedule! There’s no one good way to be buddy !
Together, you and your buddy share to get to know which activity you’d like to share together. You can participate to SINGA activities : a Bazar, ping-pong, dancing… But also activities in Brussels : a walk in a park, a museum, a meal…
The SINGA Team offers monthly and weekly activities to do together, available on our social medias (Whatsapp, Instagram, Facebook).
The reasons to participate in the Buddy program can variate but the most important is to talk about it together between buddies!
SINGA guides you to find an engagement that suits you both.
Need help during this commitment ?
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Throughout the commitment period, the Buddy team provides individualized and personalized support to answer your questions and guide you throughout your Buddy experience.
At the beginning of your commitment, you’ll have access to our Buddy Guide!
It’s a booklet full of tips, activity ideas and tools to help you better understand one another, overcome prejudices and enjoy a meaningful human experience together.In collaboration with the non-profit organization Convivial, SINGA also organizes awareness-raising sessions on asylum and migration, providing an opportunity to learn more about the realities of life for newcomers in Belgium.
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The Buddy commitment is based on everyone’s motivation and availability.
Do you have any questions, concerns, or changes in your availability (a change in your professional or personal situation, moving house, scheduling conflicts, communication difficulties with your buddy, etc.)?
Talk to us about it so that we can find an effective solution that works for everyone!
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PDF-Engagement-Buddy-2026.pdf
Most of the difficulties that arise are related to communication issues that are easy to resolve. However, if you find yourself facing more complex situations (for example, if you think there has been a misunderstanding or if your buddy asks you for advice or guidance regarding their situation), you don’t have to handle it alone!
Since 2017, we have supported more than 1,000 Buddy pairs, giving us the experience to help you navigate any difficulties that may arise during your commitment.
If we can’t answer one of your questions, the Buddy team will refer you to another organization or service that is better equipped to help.
You can consult the document below, which outlines all the steps to get started on your Buddy journey with confidence!