Community Cohesion at local level: adressing the needs of Muslim Communities. Genk: the local authority and volunteers: teamwork and results. Some good practices.

1. About Genk Economic activities: Former mining city (charcoal mines, last one closed early ’90s) Nowadays: industry, logistics, ‘Genk shopping city’ 2008: +/- 64.000 inhabitants (1908: +/- 2.000 inh.) … of whom nearly half of non-Belgian origin! … 90 nationalities Most important ethnic backgrounds: Italian, Turkish, Eastern European, Moroccan

Main social issues related to diversity in the areas of: About Genk From a small village of 2.000 people to a growing, diverse city of regional importance in just 1 century… Since 1920’s: labor migration in consecutive waves … related to mining activities Fastest growing communities: Turkish and Moroccan Main social issues related to diversity in the areas of: Education Employment Segregation / social cohesion

2. Adressing the needs of Muslim Communities: the Genk policy ! Policy making in Genk: Ethic-cultural diversity of the population as starting point (not to be questioned…) ‘Inclusion’ as the key policy principle: If and whenever possible, needs / problems that are diversity-related or even specific for ethnic groups, are dealt with within the overall policy. E.g. diversity-related problems in the area of education are dealt with by the education dept. E.g. specific needs of parents of ethnic background in the area of parenting / education are dealt with by the ‘Education Shop’. However, it is acknowledged that some issues require very specific know how and sensitivity, and are dealt with in a ‘categorial’ way E.g. islamic ‘Eid-ul Adha is dealt with by Integration dept.

Adressing the needs of Muslim Communities: the Genk policy =>The main long term aim of Genk’s diversity policy = inclusion AND: Genk policy makers acknowledge the crucial importance of networking!! => Policy realization in cooperation with local ‘self organisations’ is no exception! E.g. education / parenting: realization of campaign ‘concerned parents = strong children’ in cooperation with Turkish community E.g. Education Shop: outreaching campaigns to Moroccan parents are done in cooperation with organisations / key figures from within the communities

3. Some elaborated examples Socio-cultural / social cohesion policy: to the next level Until 2007: Lots of efforts to enhance social cohesion through neighbourhood development, cultural and social projects… … but: migrant’s socio-cultural organisations ‘belong’ to Integration dept, ‘Belgian’ socio-cultural organisations ‘belong’ to Culture dept. Change of policy in 2007: ALL Genk socio-cultural organisations are supported by Culture dept!

Some elaborated examples Kind of a small revolution… For the departments… (feelings of unfamiliarity – loss) For the organisations: The sudden consciousness for at least some of them that ‘the others’ are there too … … ‘encountering each other’ is a more frequent event => Two ‘parallell’ networks are, slowly but surely, forged into one Challenge: to ‘keep them all in’ / to make them feel at home / creating a sense of belonging

Some elaborated examples Cooperation with Muslim Communities in dealing with specific needs and issues As mentioned: Islamic ‘Eid-ul Adha Coordination of temporary slaughterhouse by Integration dept. Big issue for the communities: (non-)compatibility of European / Belgian legislation and religious prescriptions / cultural traditions Integration dept. organises information campaigns in cooperation with Turkish and Moroccan mosque organisations: To inform communities about legilations and possibilities offered To sensitise the communities to comply with regulations (very little public support…) To give them the opportunity to be ‘heard’ by the authorities

Some elaborated examples A long standing issue: the quest for an islamic burial ground A delicate issue, and, here too: Problems of only partial compatibility between EU / Belgian regulation and islamic religious prescriptions Legislation is seen as ‘strict’ and ‘anti-muslim’… Challenge to local authority: Complying with regulations (ALSO with respect to non-discrimination in burial grounds!) And still trying to reconcile regulation and religion How? Working group is installed: Comprised by politicians, officers and key community members Its mission: to work out an ‘advise’ to the authority: how to install an islamic burial ground in Genk without violating the law…

Questions? Contact: Genk Integration Service Vanessa Broux (Integration Officer) (0032) 89 65 42 42 Vanessa.broux@genk.be