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2016
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BSI synopsis. Brussels youth: between diversity and lack of security

Notes de la rédaction

This is the press release related to the article from Muriel Sacco, Wendy Smits, Bram Spruyt, Dimo Kavadias and Caroline d’Andrimont, published on April 25, 2016. Read the article.

The population of the Brussels-Capital Region is the youngest in Belgium. In 2015, young people between the ages of 12 and 24 represented 15% of the population. It is not easy, however, to paint a complete and detailed picture of this growing population of young people in Brussels.

Brussels Studies Institute formed a team of French- and Dutch-speaking researchers led by Muriel Sacco, sociologist at Université libre de Bruxelles, in order to discern a picture of these young inhabitants of Brussels in the profusion of works dealing partially with the subject. The synthesis which they produced, on the initiative of Fondation Bernheim and in collaboration with Fondation Roi Baudouin, is the fruit of the analysis of nearly 200 works from different knowledge producers, academic or other (universities, foundations, public institutions, associations, etc.). Two workshops gathering stakeholders in the field allowed us to complement the information gathered and to better understand the challenges of working on the subject of young people.

This work has provided an incomplete and fragmented picture of Brussels youth. The division of the competent institutions in this matter is of course well known. Many of the studies analysed do not focus on Brussels youth as a whole, but on young people in a linguistic community which covers a larger territory than the regional territory. This is the case with publications dealing with education, as well as other sectors: culture, health policy, support for individuals and family policy. The Communities, in addition to the federal level, are competent in the legal sector. Furthermore, in Brussels, some of these community powers are managed by the Community Commissions, which multiplies the institutional points of view.

The synopsis does allow, however, some divided observations to be identified. The first is undoubtedly the significant number and growing diversity of young people in the Brussels region. The second element to be highlighted is the rather sombre picture which emerges. The situation of many young people is insecure, as regards education, access to employment, discrimination, housing conditions and access to healthcare. It is interesting to note, however, that most of the studies focus on Brussels youth in difficulty or disadvantaged youth, and that there is little focus on the more privileged youth. Nevertheless, the literature analysed highlights the strong dualisation of living conditions of Brussels youth. Several types of youth live in Brussels, living ‘parallel’ lives, meeting very little in the school system or in leisure spaces, not practising the same type of mobility, and not having the same level of education or the same chances for access to employment.

The summary of results also underlines that many themes deserve to be investigated further. Little is known about areas such as the private lives of young people, the determining factors in the choice of partner, tastes, activities and daily life, and religious practices. There are only a few analyses which focus on the theme of gender and relationships within certain ethnic communities in Brussels. The use of leisure time for cultural and sports activities is only very partially known. A further investigation of these themes could help to better understand young people. However, a large part of this knowledge is produced via schools. Other points of entry such as leisure, spaces for seeking employment, training spaces, work spaces and the public space should be mobilised.

There is still a lot which needs to be done to better understand young people in Brussels as a whole and in a coherent urban context. The impressionist compilation of studies commissioned by various stakeholders with their own community and sectoral logic will not be enough. There is a real need to address the Brussels youth under a more systemic and innovative approach, while fully involving young people in the process.

References
Sacco, Muriel, Smits, Wendy, Spruyt, Bram, Kavadias, Dimo, d’Andrimont, Caroline, Prénom, “Brussels youth: between diversity and lack of security”, Brussels Studies [Online], General collection, No 98, 25 April 2016. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/brussels/1345
Contact
Benjamin Wayens, Senior Editor: bwayens[at]brusselsstudies.be

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