Come and work in the vineyard, or rather at the ‘Olive Tree’!

by Chris Guichet de Fortis

Kraainem (19 August 2006).- I wonder if you have a little time to give to help those who are poor among the poor, and who daily suffer so much in both body and soul – refugees and asylum-seekers? It’s probably fair to say that, as foreigners in a strange land, we can begin to glimpse something of their hopes and fears…

The “Olivier” is a refugee social and legal service founded ten years ago by a Saint Anthony’s parishioner (Chris de Fortis), under the umbrella of the Catholic NGO, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, to bring aid in all forms to foreign nationals in difficulty in the Brussels region. “I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me to drink, sick or in prison and you visited me”

You can see what we do by looking at our website: www.lolivier.be. We work thanks entirely to donations (and of course we will not say ‘no’ to any euros you may have to spare!), and we really need helpers, as our professional staff constitute only a small kernel among about thirty volunteers.

Helpers are needed at:
- The “Olivier” clothing depot near the Gare du Midi, for which no knowledge of French is necessary. The commitment would need to cover a half-day per week, for a minimum of one year.
- The main socio-legal service at the Rue de la Rosée (also just North of the Gare du Midi), where we need English-speakers to help interpret and care for refugees using that language. Here, a reasonable mastery of French is necessary, and again we ask that you give one or two half-days a week, for a period of at least 12 months.
- Collecting bread by car from a ‘social bakery’ in Waterloo, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and taking the loaves to the “Olivier” in Anderlecht.

If you would like to ask for more info, or discuss helping in more detail, just ring Chris on 0495 344707 or email him at defortis@skynet.be

“Who believes, loves. Who loves, serves” (Mother Teresa)

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