Citizenship award 2009: Les Territoires de la Mémoire and Kif Kif

2009 : Les Territoires de la Mémoire and Kif Kif, two Belgian associations working to spread values of solidarity and dialogue.

Kif Kif

The intercultural platform Kif Kif emerged 'from the bottom up' in 2003 with the creation of an interactive website and the organisation of high-profile activities. In recent years, the organisation experienced strong growth. It is currently one of the leading actors in Flanders with regard to the animated social debate on intercultural society. Much has changed since its very inception. Kif Kif is now a 'socio-cultural movement' recognised by the Flemish government with four staff members supporting a large team of volunteers and freelancers.

Kif Kif starts from a clear vision in which the following keywords are central: democratic, pluralistic, solidiarist, anti-racist and progressive. From these starting points, we work on the central objectives: offering a forum to a diversity of voices, removing stereotypes and negative images, promoting the active participation of all citizens, stimulating critical reflection, guarding the independence of the organisation.

Les Territoires de la Mémoire

Founded in 1993, the non-profit association " Les Territoires de la Mémoire " is an educational centre for resistance and citizenship, recognised by the French-speaking community of Belgium. To keep the past alive among children, young people and adults, the association undertakes all kinds of initiatives to transmit the past and encourage everyone to work for a democratic society that guarantees fundamental freedoms.

The association aims to develop civic spirit, strengthen democracy and promote tolerance towards otherness.

In its visitor spaces, it proposes a symbolic trajectory. This is a moving experience imbued with reverence for all victims of Nazi barbarism. Using testimonies of survivors and excerpts from the film " Nuit et brouillard " (Night and fog) by Alain Resnais, the journey of a deportee in the concentration and extermination camps is recalled.