Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Halle supports grieving parents by hosting a Star Children Register and an Inspiration Day on January 25, 2025, to share experiences and improve services.
Halle has introduced new programs to help parents who are sad about losing a child. One important program is the Star Children Register, which started in 2023. This register allows parents to write down the names of their children who died before, during, or shortly after birth, giving these short lives a chance to be recognized.
How is Halle supporting grieving families through new initiatives?
The Halle supports grieving parents with a Star Children Register and an Inspiration Day on Jan 25, 2025, to share experiences and improve services. The city wants to show that it cares about the pain families feel. The register honors these children and acknowledges their parents’ grief.
Last year, for example, we opened a register for star children,
says alderman Louis Van Dionant (CD&V).
In addition, a star meadow was also set up at the cemetery in Halle, as well as a special mourning place, especially for children and young people.
Halle has created a place for mourning and remembering. In the cemetery, they built a star meadow. This meadow is a spot where families can honor their star children. It has been said that it gives them a peaceful place to connect with their memories. There is also a special area for children and young people. Halle cares about helping everyone who is affected by loss. The city wants to create a community where people can grieve together with support and understanding.
The city is organizing an inspiration day at the cultural center, ‘t Vondel. This event aims to bring together parents who have experienced this deep loss and provide a space for them to share their personal stories and feelings. By listening to these parents, the city hopes to learn more about their needs and challenges. Halle mentioned that this understanding will help improve future support services, making them more helpful during difficult times. The city wants to ensure that families feel cared for and understood as they navigate their grief.
Halle organizes this event along with the Berrefonds
The city of Halle organizes this event along with the Berrefonds, a nonprofit that helps families who have lost a child. The Berrefonds provide support by giving out cuddle boxes. Each year, they distribute over 1,250 of these boxes for free. Hospitals, funeral homes, police, and healthcare workers help get these boxes to families. Each cuddle box has soft toys and keepsakes inside. These items are meant to comfort parents during their hard times. The work of the Berrefonds is an important part of the city’s efforts to help families cope with their loss.
The Inspiration Day will give parents who have lost a child a chance to share their stories. They can also talk about how the city’s support services can be better. This event is meant to create an open conversation between the parents and city officials. It is important that the parents’ voices are heard and their needs are met.
To join the event, people must register ahead of time. This helps the city prepare for everyone who comes. The city is working with the Berrefonds to improve its programs and find new ways to support families in grief.
