Oranjehuis vzw is an innovative non-profit organization that aims to create lasting and positive change in the lives of children/young people, their families and their wider environment. The prevention of any type of exclusion from societal structures is at the heart of its missions.
The organization offers a wide range of services, mainly in the region of the city of Kortrijk (Belgium): residential unit and independent living program, housing support program for young ex-prisoners, family counseling services, intervention in family crisis cases, community farm, time out service for schools, training center for teachers and social workers, drug counseling program, vocational training for adolescents, …
LIGAND is the entity responsible for innovation and development within the organization.
Initially, it was a school intervention service (mediation) aimed at preventing the exclusion of young people from school. Ligand gradually became a pioneer in Flanders in the use of restorative conferences as a means of managing conflicts inside and outside the school. Its mission is to strengthen people and organizations in the (restorative) management of conflicts. We have implemented interventions and processes in schools, families, prisons, refugee centers, welfare organizations, youth detention centers, community centers and other workplaces. For nearly 15 years, the organization has provided training in restorative practices to schools and future restorative conference leaders.
Ligand is one of the founding partners of the Flemish Platform for Restorative Practices in Schools and has published several books for teachers, social workers and managers interested in restorative practices.
In terms of conflict resolution in the housing context, Oranjehuis manages housing in different residential structures for young people and young adults aged 15 to 25. The organization collaborates with many owners in the Kortrijk region, which guarantees close monitoring in the event of problems or conflicts (with neighbors, between residents, with the owner). The approach proposed by Oranjehuis consists of including the widest possible circle of people concerned.
The community farm developed in the heart of Heule (Kortrijk) connects people who experience multiple vulnerabilities with people who reside in the vast area of the farm. The objective is to reactivate young people and adults so that they find a purpose in life and the desire to participate in school or the job market.
Oranjehuis has provided temporary housing to Ukrainian families who fled the war and is working with the city of Kortrijk to ensure their transition to more permanent housing.
The organization maintains a highly valued local partnership with the municipality (city of Kortrijk) which supports the implementation of good practices in many areas: schools, community centers, social work teams, police.
Ligand is an innovation center that helps organizations find new approaches to the challenges they face. A few years ago, we conducted a pilot project on neighborhood PR with students from Vives Community College. More recently, we have collaborated with the city of Kortrijk to develop new ways to deal with nuisances and incidents linked to vaping. This is a collaboration between the police, the public prosecutor’s office and Oranjehuis.
Ligand has extensive experience training professionals in conflict management. Recently, we designed a basic online training course on this subject (7 modules). We have developed expertise in the field of online learning.
As part of the Harmony project, Oranjehuis is particularly involved in the design of a restorative intervention kit for harmonious citizen relations.
This “toolbox”, intended for practitioners of social animation and mediation, and more broadly for residents, will be available in the 4 languages of the consortium (English, Flemish, French, Italian) and available in a digital, downloadable version. on the project website. It will be accompanied by a getting started guide in the form of a digital training module (infographics and video).
In addition, Oranjehuis will lead a training session on the use of the toolbox intended for practitioners and trainers from each territory of the partnership and will participate in testing the tools designed in the field.
Furthermore, Oranjehuis mobilizes and leads the local network of residents and field practitioners in its territory involved in the active search for lasting solutions promoting good living in collective housing.
The organization will actively participate in field testing of conflict prevention and resolution tools developed as part of the Harmony project, as well as in their evaluation.
