Newcomer
instead of «migrant» or «refugee»
A person who has recently arrived in Belgium, looking to contribute to its host country and build a new social network.
Who are we?
SINGA creates spaces for connections to be made between newcomers and local people already settled in Brussels to contribute to a more open and inclusive society and change perspectives on migration.
Our mission
« Accelerate the inclusion of newcomers and change the narrative on migration »
SINGA creates spaces for connections between newcomers and local people already settled in Brussels. These interactions can take the shape of group meetups, one-on-one pairings, or even hosting. We foster opportunities for newcomers and promote an enriched, diverse society where everyone has a place to live to their full potential.
Our vision
At SINGA, meetings and exchanges can help to access new opportunities for newcomers and locals.
Studies from the UNHCR, OECD, and World Bank agree that migration benefits host countries. Every person brings their own experiences, skills, and perspectives to build a more diverse host country. The existing multiculturality in Brussels proves it every day.
« A society that strengthens when it opens to migration»
The principles
that guide us.
They shape every meeting, every activity, and each relation within our community.
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Horizontality
We believe in equals-to-equals relations where everyone has their place and own voice. Therefore, we don't talk about helper/helped but horizontal relationships.
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Kindness
Interactions within the community are characterised by respect for others and for oneself, and by an openness to diverse points of view.
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Diversity
Cultural, linguistic and life experience diversity is a real opportunity within our community, with each experience helping to strengthen our unity. Our activities are designed to provide a space for exchange and communication.
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Inclusion
Where integration suggests an individual adaptation, we prefer to talk about active inclusion where each person contributes to the construction and development of our society.
Why does SINGA exist?
- x2
- the number of people migrating has doubled in the past 30 years
- ~4%
- Migrating people represent about 4% of the world population today, a number constantly increasing.
- 186
- different nationalities in Brussels, the most cosmopolitan city in Europe.
The number of people migrating has doubled in 30 years and now makes up almost 4% of the world’s population. These numbers are constantly rising and show that migration is not a marginal or temporary phenomenon: it is a lasting and durable transformation of our societies.
Brussels is no stranger to this transformation. As Europe’s most cosmopolitan capital, home to 186 different nationalities, Brussels is a true testing ground for living together. Yet traditional ‘‘integration’’ systems often remain administrative, fragmented, focused on immediate needs, and not particularly focused on building lasting social bonds.
However, the main challenges are not solely legal or economic: isolation, a lack of a good social network, particularly when it comes to accessing employment or housing, social mistrust, and difficulty in feeling a sense of ‘belonging’ are all issues that must be addressed.
SINGA Brussels was founded in 2016 in response to this observation, when two Belgian women realised that there were very few spaces where local people and newcomers could genuinely meet. Without such spaces, it is nearly impossible for newcomers to break out of their isolation, overcome the language barrier, build a social network, and get to know their new surroundings in their new host country.
But it is also very difficult for local people, whose existing social networks are limited in diversity, to overcome potential prejudices or fears towards newcomers without being able to meet them on an equal footing on a day-to-day basis.
Words are
very important.
Here at SINGA, we chose a language that puts everyone on an equal footing.
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Local
instead of «native»
A person who has lived in Belgium for quite some time (with or without nationality) knows the social codes and has an established social network.
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Community member
instead of « beneficiary»
Every person, whether a newcomer or local, is on an equal footing in all of SINGA’s activities and actions.
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Inclusion
instead of « integration »
Integration is a series of efforts and changes that are asked of a newcomer to get integrated into an already existing system. At SINGA, we prioritise inclusion, a system that is not stuck and can be developed by each member of the community.