Glabbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Zurbemde, Glabbeek Herberg Stanske care home installed a red phone box near 5 oak trees as a quiet place for grieving, inspired by Helen Vertommen of vzw Sporen to help people express feelings and find comfort.
As VRT News reported, in Zurbemde, Glabbeek, a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, the Herberg Stanske care home has a special new addition. They’ve put an old red telephone box near five old oak trees. Officials mentioned that this phone box is now a quiet place for people who are sad or grieving.
How does the red phone box help people cope with loss in Zurbemde?
According to officials, the idea for the telephone box came from Helen Vertommen of vzw Sporen, a group that helps people deal with loss. Helen wanted a place where people could “send out” messages. They mentioned that even though no calls are made, speaking in the phone booth helps people connect with those they’ve lost.
The project’s idea came from Heleen’s own experience with loss. She read a book about grief and memories, which helped her understand how we stay connected to those we’ve lost. Working with young people who were also grieving, she saw a need for a way to express unspoken feelings.
She wanted something real but also symbolic, a space for thinking and healing. She mentioned that it’s a small, private place for quiet thought, where people can imagine reaching out to those who can’t answer anymore.
Heleen got help from Ferm, vzw Sporen, and local people, including young folks. They have money to buy and fix up an old phone booth. Heleen mentioned that this project wasn’t just about keeping an old thing around. It was about making a symbol of hope and connection.
According to officials, 5 years ago, the care home became a “place of comfort” for people who have lost someone. They mentioned that the phone box is a place where people can talk to their loved ones who have passed away. The phone box gives them a private space.
