Our projects, services and events

Discover our different projects on labour market, gender equality, eliminating violence, empowerment and reducing poverty.

Our projects

Changemakers for Gender Equality

With the project Changemakers for Gender Equality HWA will train and educate 10 influential changemakers to become leaders of dialogue in their communities and boost gender equality.

Starter plan: Financial planning for newcomers

With the HWA Starter Plan: Learning to Budget, the Humanitarian Welfare Association aims to empower newcomers and people with a migration background to become more financially self-reliant. Many people encounter an unfamiliar and complex financial system when they arrive in Belgium, which can lead to stress, debt, or exclusion.

Road to empowerment

The Road to Empowerment is a four-tiered project, geared toward both male and female empowerment, and consists of four sub-projects: the Afghan Women’s Council, our consultation service, our anti-violence projects, and gender equality trainings.

EmpowHER

Health and hygiene are human rights and yet for those forced toward the outskirts of society, the homeless, people with a migration background and the financially struggling, that human right is largely out of reach. EmpowHER is HWA’s response to this pressing need and aims to reach those most isolated and in need.

Societal education project

Upon their arrival in Belgium, newcomers are confronted with new values and laws. HWA’s expansive societal education project offers a first step into a new world for newcomers (asylum seekers, immigrants, refugees, …) through interactive training.

Eerste sprong naar werk

De eerste sprong naar werk is an entry-level labor market activation project, geared toward female newcomers and migrants, who only speak a beginner’s level of Dutch. Our coaches will combine theory and practice so our students develop the tools and knowledge needed to start on their path toward employment and financial independence.

Springplank naar werk

For female newcomers who speak an intermediate level of Dutch and wish to start working or studying, HWA has developed Springplank naar werk.

Women2Work

Women2Work is a labor market activation and female empowerment project geared toward immigrants, asylum seekers and other newcomers, and specifically those who have a higher fluency in Dutch.

Study day on unfree partner choice

On November 21, 2024, GemmA, the Gender and Migration Support Center, of which HWA is one of the three core partners, organized its first study day on (un)free partner choice. A total of 96 participants attended, coming from sectors such as welfare, education, integration and civic integration, police, and healthcare.

SDG Meeting - in collaboration with Total Energies Foundation

On December 19, 2024, HWA, in collaboration with Total Energies Foundation and other partners, organized an inspiring SDG Meeting and Networking Event at Den Bell in Antwerp. This event brought together various organizations to work towards a shared vision: promoting collaboration, raising awareness, and sharing best practices related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Stop violence video's: an urgent call to end violence

Domestic violence is a deeply rooted societal issue that undermines the foundations of families and communities. It affects millions of people worldwide, yet it often remains hidden due to stigma, shame, tradition, honour and fear. HWA, which has been fighting for elimination of all forms of violence for years, takes its responsibility to break this taboo and play an active role in creating a society where safety and equality is priority.

Women's council

The Women’s Council is a platform for Afghan and Iranian women to empower themselves, support one another, and advocate for their own rights and other women. Comprising women from diverse backgrounds and academic disciplines, the council meets monthly to discuss key topics that foster their personal growth, empowerment, confidence, and capacity development..

Afghan Advisory Committee

The Afghan Advisory Committee is a consultation platform that focuses on specific cases and policy issues concerning the Afghan community in Belgium. The committee consists of experts and representatives with in-depth knowledge of Afghan culture and the Belgian legal system and have working experience in supporting victims and handling cases of violence.

Gezin in Balans

Gezin in Balans is a program focused on strengthening families, with a particular emphasis on promoting healthy and balanced family dynamics. This initiative was a pilot project developed by the City of Antwerp/Gemma, with our active participation in its implementation.

Our services

Consultation Service

Arriving in a foreign country where an entirely different language is spoken results more often than not in a large culture shock and isolation. The language barrier leads to difficulty with basic needs not being met.

Our consultation service provides practical advice and assistance to migrants and the local Afghan community in Belgium. Moving to a new country often involves culture shock and language barriers, so we focus on facilitating communication and making support accessible by offering assistance in the native language of the target group.

Immigration Service

The Immigration Service of HWA provides support to newcomers in Belgium with various immigration procedures. The service focuses on providing information, legal guidance, and administrative assistance for residence procedures, asylum applications, and family reunification.

Anti- Violence Service

Domestic and intrafamilial violence remains a serious societal issue, affecting people from all backgrounds. Addressing this sensitive and often taboo topic is a challenge, but HWA is committed to breaking the silence.

Our anti-violence service addresses both internal and external cases of domestic and family violence. Internally, individuals can reach us through our helpline for confidential advice and comprehensive support.

Trainings

In addition to its projects, HWA offers comprehensive integration training for individuals and groups with a migration background -women, men and minors- with a particular focus on the Dari-, Farsi-, and Pashto-speaking communities. These trainings support participants in adapting to Belgian society by providing insight into its norms and values, human rights, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual harassment and domestic violence.

We also offer different trainings for professionals, teams and groups.

Our events

Beyond our projects, we also regularly organize or co-organize events, amongst which events in the context of International Women’s Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We have also organized women’s exhibitions and an Afghan Women’s festival, in collaboration with several partners.

Women's exhibition

In 2021, HWA organized a big exhibition. The exhibition supported women to participate in society, become integrated, and empower themselves by putting their business ideas into practice. The women showed their talents through handicrafts, art, cooking, beauty, manufacturing clothes, and more.

International Women's Day

Each year HWA celebrates the international women’s day with an event or workshop.

Afghan women festival

In 2024, HWA organized the first ever Afghan Women Festival. The festival was organized by and for Afghan women. The focus was on female entrepreneurship, festivities and sharing their culture.