SoliDare Hub

Youth engagement and GCE

Global Citizenship Education (GCE) is largely based on the ‘knowledge – attitude – engagement’ continuum, but there is no evidence that knowledge and/or attitude leads to engagement. So how can GCE foster youth engagement?

BeGlobal, Enabel’s Center of Expertise for GCE in Belgium, looked into this question through studies commissioned by Enabel and came out with the following hypothesis:

By increasing the self-efficacy of young people and providing them with action-based competencies, they will engage more effectively, sustainably, and informedly, in alignment with the current challenges of international solidarity.

By self-efficacy, we mean an individual’s belief in their ability to successfully accomplish a given task.

Building on this hypothesis and the recommendations from two workshops conducted with groups of young people in Brussels, we developed the concept of SoliDare Hub.

SoliDare Hub groepsfoto

SoliDare Hub: what is it concretely and what do we offer?

SoliDare Hub is a 9-month coaching trajectory supporting 5 selected projects with a strong social and solidarity impact led by young people in Belgium. At the end of the trajectory, each project is pitched to a jury, which selects the winning project. The winner receives a financial aid of 15,000 € for its implementation.

The trajectory comprises the following:
Five one-day workshops (see workshops)
One teambuilding weekend
One-to-one coaching with experts on request
Regular support & guidance from the Hub team
Networking opportunities with Enabel’s contacts in partner countries

More info
SoliDare Hub, Enabel

OUR PRINCIPLES

Engaged and motivated young people Lees meer


Enabel’s networks and contacts Lees meer
Enabel’s experts Lees meer
Practical tools & networking opportunities Lees meer
Practical and emotional supportLees meer

The 2024 edition

The 5 projects

Ben Kamuntu workshop

3PM: Slam & poetry for social cohesion in the DRC and Burundi

Ben Kamuntu

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Carmel Boyika

Lisungi after Bomoto: Mental health in the DRC

Carmel Boyika

More info

Iballia: Sports & education in the DRC

Elijah Tshibangu, Urszula Zembrowska & Douglas Kyle

More info

Ubuki bw'Agaciro: Empowering women through beekeeping in Rwanda

Johan Sebukire, Hannah Downes & Hendrik van Leeuwen

More info

Shielding Sisters: Sexual violence in conflict areas (DRC)

Salma & Ranya Naji

More info

SoliDare Hub workshop

The workshops

Focus of the workshop: the evolution of the international cooperation sector, enabling the young participants to reflect on and evaluate whether their project ideas align with prevailing trends in international cooperation.

Focus of the workshop: an introduction to the concept of design thinking and the project cycle management of international cooperation projects. Practical tools were provided for each step of the project cycle.

Focus of the workshop: tips and tricks on how to pitch a project when seeking for funds.

Focus of the workshop: a complete and comprehensive overview of various funding mechanisms in Belgium, including crowdfunding, private and public foundations, and social businesses. The participants also listened to an inspirational testimony from a prominent woman who successfully established her own micro-finance business to empower women in the DRC.

This workshop in particular was open to all applicants of SoliDare Hub.

Focus of the workshop: a detailed explanation of the different options for creating their own legal structure in Belgium, as well as tips specific to each type of structure.

The award ceremony