Fintro put out in May a call for neighbourhood improvement projects, setting up a special site –http://www.fintroverbetertjebuurt.be – to enter project proposals. When entries closed on 9 June, a total of 111 proposals had been uploaded. Each of the 11 winning projects, one from each province of Belgium, will receive some €3,300 worth of support, out of a total sum of €35,950.
The members of the jury include representatives from four different fields: banking (Fintro), the events sector, youth work, town planning, plus Tanguy Ottomer, the famous Antwerp city guide. The criteria applied by the jury in screening the proposals were: practical feasibility, timing and the motivation of the project initiators. Each applicant was also asked to convince the jury on one basic question: “How will your project make the neighbourhood a better place to live?” After thorough examination of these aspects, a winner was selected for each province from a short list of three.
The following 11 projects emerged as the winners:
- East Flanders – Speelpleinwerking Pieto!nk (play area) in Hamme.
- Antwerp – Scouts St-Tarcitius in Geel.
- Flemish Brabant – Arbeidszorgproject ’t Hof (job creation) in Langdorp.
- Limburg – project Eisden Tuinwijk (gardening) in Eisden.
- West Flanders – Buurtgraffitifeest (local graffiti festival) in Kortrijk.
- Brussels – Dance Action Artwork project in Schaarbeek.
- Namur – project "Potager de Salzinnes" project (kitchen garden creation) in Namur.
- Liège – "Plaine de jeux" project (games area) in Vivegnis-Oupeye.
- Luxemburg – "L’Epicerie sociale" (social grocery) in Bastogne.
- Henegouwen – "L’embellissement Fleurus" project (town beautification) in Fleurus.
- Walloon Brabant – "Café social La Tchafouille" (social cafe) in Ottignies.
All these groups can now make concrete plans in the certain knowledge that their projects can be carried out thanks to the financial support provided by Fintro.
All the remaining applicants also deserve recognition for their determined efforts to make their neighbourhood a nicer place to live. They have all without doubt created positive momentum for their initiatives. Fintro would like to thank all the project originators for their enthusiastic participation in the contest.