Volunteering

Social Contribution and local engagement is an important quality of International House West Flanders.

Volunteering is a fun way to integrate into the West Flemish community while making a positive impact in the society. By engaging in volunteer work, you can connect with locals, practice the language, build friendships and gain a deeper understanding of the culture and values of your new home.

Read on

Get started!

Would you like to have a try at volunteering in West Flanders? Here are some links to get you started on making a positive impact.

Checklist

Before you embark on a volenteering journey, it might be good to ask yourself some questions to make sure you find the right cause for you:

What are my interests and passions?
What skills or experiences can I offer?
Do I like to work with children, young people, the elderly, people with disabilities, ...?
Would I like to work in a team?
How much time would I like to commit?
How can I fit this into my schedule?
What do I want to 'gain' from volunteering?
Am I willing to commute or would I rather work close to home?

Legal & Practical aspects

What about insurance, reimbursement of expenses, training, the legal framework of volunteering, et cetera? Check Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk and you will find all the answers you need.

West Flanders has a long and varied tradition of volunteering, making it easy to find a cause that resonates with you. You can get involved in cultural organisations, environmental groups, community centers, schools, eldery care facilities, et cetera. No matter your interests, you are sure to find the perfect opportunity in West Flanders to share your skills and talents while learning from others.

Start Search!

All Over Flanders

Vlaams Steunpunt Vrijwilligerswerk and Give a Day (available in English) are networks of all types of volunteering opportunities in the region of Flanders.

Since there are vacancies across Flanders, it is crucial to check if transports are manageable while searching for a volunteering job.

Roeselare

In Roeselare, there are several organizations offering volunteering opportunities, ranging from cooking assistants to sporting events supporters, and so on.

Give a Day: Overview of volunteering opportunities in Roeselare as well as other cities (Contact for Roeselare: +32 51 26 24 64)

Jeun Dienstencentra: Location for local events of all ages in Roeselare. To be volunteer of certain events, contact them directly for more information.

For most events, volunteers are required to provide services in Dutch. Therefore, it is important to contact the organizer of each event to confirm beforehand.

Bruges

To be volunteer in Bruges, you are provided with diverse choices across sectors and skillsets, visit Stad Brugge for general information.

Volunteer for Local Authority of Bruges

Educational workers at Kinderboerderij De Zeven Torentjes
Practice Dutch-speaking with foreign learners
Museum workers
Library workers

Volunteer for Other Opportunities in the region of Bruges

Brugge Plus
Volunteering with at local events such as Feest in't Park, Cirque Plus, Lichtfeesten Lissewege, and MORE
Tasks range from logistics transfer, flyers distribution, catering help, tour guides, bartenders, and MORE
Contact Brugge Plus: medewerkers@bruggeplus.be
De Kade
Volunteering for more social, sport-related, and cultural activities
Local hospitals - AZ Sint-Lucas and AZ Sint-Jan
Volunteers at hospitals are offered with certain benefits in return such as meal coverage and vaccination.
Contact AZ Sint-Lucas: HERE
Contact AZ Sint-Jan: vrijwilligerswerk@azsintjan.be or +32 50 45 34 64