While policies aimed at fostering inclusion often tend to address migration, cultural and sexual orientation diversity as distinct issues, Merhaba ASBL endeavors to approach these matters with an intersectional perspective. By considering these questions together, the organisation aspires to co-create an inclusive society where LGBTQI+ individuals from migrant backgrounds not only belong, but also feel safer and see themselves as full citizens. Merhaba organises activities and events, both social and professional, aimed at supporting individuals, building a sense of community and belonging, as well as raising awareness and challenging discrimination within society in a broader manner.
Who benefits
Merhaba is aimed at LGBTQI+ people from a migrant background, those close to them who are looking for information and/or someone to speak with, and professionals who work (in)directly with these communities. These include socio-cultural professionals and associations, LGBTQI+ associations, social welfare centres, teaching professionals and youth workers.
How it works
Merhaba largely depends on the work of approximately 25 volunteers. They actively participate at every level of the organisation's activities and decision-making processes. Merhaba operates in Dutch, English and French.
The association implements a threefold action plan that provides services tailored for both LGBTQI+ and the professionals who work in contact with them:
(1) Empowerment: Supporting LGBTQI+ migrants by providing socio-educational services (workshops; meetings; conversation tables; social platforms). This serves a triple purpose: breaking isolation, fostering mutual inspiration and enabling individuals to assert agency in their lives.
(2) Community building: Facilitating the establishment of networks and connections among LGBTQI+ migrant groups as well as other members of social circles to which they belong by organising diverse events: MerhaBars; talking groups; film screenings; sports activities; cooking workshops; yoga sessions and much more.
(3) Inclusion: Supporting professionals who work in contact with LGBTQI+ migrants by providing customised training programmes. Diverse tools, training courses, and workshops offer resources for everyday interactions as well as for governance and policy-making. The aim is to encourage professionals to reflect on their position within society and help them to develop good practices that will lead to better inclusion of ethnic and sexual diversity.
- Start date
- 15 Jun 2001
- Project locations
- Belgium
- Project website
- Merhaba Website
- Age and gender
- LGBTIQ
- Topic
- Health
Results
The following activities have so far been carried out by the association:
For LGBTQI+ people with a migrant background
- Merhaba’s counselling service: Psychosocial support is available upon request by email or telephone. Free and confidential, it offers a listening ear to individuals in need of information or support.
- "Merhabar": Every last Friday of the month, Merhaba organises a social event at a bar in Brussels. Merhabar events are an opportunity for LGBTQI+ migrants to meet up in an inclusive atmosphere.
- Monthly group meetings (Fr/Nl/En): Discussion groups where individuals can explore questions about their sexual orientation/gender identity in a supportive environment. These offer an opportunity to learn more, find inspiration, cultivate self-acceptance and break free from isolation.
- "LadiesTalk": A project created in response to questions from a number of North African and Turkish women about homosexuality. Through a reflexive process, participants can find out about the social mechanisms that lead to exclusion, and how they may contribute to the exclusion of others.
For board public and/or professionals :
- "Message to my mother" is a documentary that features different generations of women from migrant backgrounds, addressing the difficulties they face in discussing sensitive topics. Through various testimonies, the movie explores such themes such as relationships, gender roles, racism, migration, sex and love. The aim of the documentary is to spark intergenerational and intercultural exchanges: Merhaba offers tailor-made activities for professionals, with collective discussions following the screening of the documentary.
- "Recht op Liefde": a handbook (manual + DVD) aimed at people who work in intercultural contexts (teachers; socio-cultural workers; youth workers). This tool features exercises and keys to facilitate discussion on sexual and gender diversity in a diversity of contexts.
Evaluation
With a large range of activities, of which some have been taking place regularly for many years, Merhaba has been able to build an active and supportive community network. This allows the association to effectively bring together those who are vulnerable and excluded, and empower healing and (self-)acceptance by contributing to building a necessary sense of safety.
The association has been able to provide training for professionals in various sectors, such as education (ex: Odisee, Thomas Moore, Arteveldeschool, Vives, Erasmus Hogeschool, CLB), youth work (ex: Services d'aide aux Jeunes en familles de Neder-over-Heembeek), health (ex: Huisartsengroep Molenbeek, Croix Rouge) and social services (ex: Fedasil, CAW, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen).
Funding and resources
Merhaba ASBL is subsidised by the Flemish Government and Brussels Government. The association also relies on donations.