Merchtem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Merchtem’s new welfare council aims to enhance local support programs with a €16,000 budget, focusing on vulnerable residents. Aldermen Reinoud De Bosscher and Steven Elpers emphasize collaboration for better community welfare.
The local government of Merchtem is starting a new welfare council to improve its support programs. This council will help organize all welfare activities in the community. It will bring together different groups that help residents.
The new council will include the seniors’ council, which focuses on older people, and the North-South council, which has worked on global issues. Officials mentioned that this change will help different areas like senior care, child welfare, and fighting poverty work better together. The goal is to give more direct help to the people of Merchtem.
How will Merchtem’s welfare council use its €16,000 Budget?
According to officials, the welfare council is making a big change with its 16,000-euro budget. This money is used to support projects in other countries, but now it will help local programs for vulnerable people.
According to Alderman Reinoud De Bosscher (N-VA), this new plan will make it easier to meet welfare needs and help improve life for those who need it most. The goal is to work together to make the community better and find lasting solutions for people in need.
“The welfare council will be a platform in which all players involved in welfare themes will have a voice. It concerns senior care, child welfare, combating poverty, loneliness, health and support for people with disabilities,”
Says Alderman Reinoud De Bosscher (N-VA).
The new advisory council in Merchtem wants to improve the well-being of everyone. It will advise the mayor and local leaders about social issues. One big change is how they are using the budget. In the past, they spent up to 16,000 euros each year on projects in countries like Haiti and Togo.
Now, under Alderman Steven Elpers (LVB), they will use this money only for local programs that help people in need. They want to focus on helping vulnerable groups in the Merchtem community, especially those facing poverty and social isolation.
Alderman for Development Cooperation Steven Elpers (LVB).
“The new board of aldermen has decided to use these resources only for local Merchtem welfare initiatives, the fourth world, people in poverty here with us, in our municipality.”
According to Elpers, the goal is to use resources to make the community kinder and more welcoming. The welfare council will look for ideas that assist vulnerable residents. They invite all residents who care about social issues to share their thoughts and help improve the well-being of others.
“Every Merchtem resident with a heart for social engagement can apply and will thus have the opportunity to contribute to an even warmer Merchtem,”
Elpers concludes.
