Alderman Homans invests 170.000 euro in a mobile team. Antwerp launches in mid-February a social project of organization Barka which guides Polish homeless to Poland to help them rebuild their life there. The project has already proven to be a success in other European cities, but Polish homeless people in Antwerp are skeptical. Continue reading →

At Barka homeless doesn’t mean hopeless

Since the start of the project the disruption of public order caused by the homeless Middle and Eastern Europeans significantly decreased. Barka helps to encourage them to look for jobs or to go back to the country of origin. Continue reading →

„There is nothing worse than going back home as a loser”

Before
In January, the chairman of OCMV in Antwerp, Liesbeth Homans went to Utrecht to become acquainted with Barka. That Polish welfare organization tries to convince Polish people, who  abroad fell into problems and live in poverty, to go back to their own country and start putting their lives back together there. Continue reading →

Study visit to Barka Poland 24 February – 28 February 2014

General impressions

During this study visit we were shown the main center of Barka foundation in Poznan, the social enterprise in Posadowek, the social co-operative in Wladyslawowo, the partnership with Association Gebiczyn and local authorities of Wielkopolskiego, the social enterprise in Chudopczyce, the city Rawicz (there where progress are registered in the effort of establishing a new partnership with the local authorities, other representatives of civil society and interested commercial organizations) and the established partnership with the local authorities of Poznan. Continue reading →

„I know, how it is to live on the street” – Ex-homeless guides  Polish drifters back home.

After great success in England, Ireland and the Netherlands also Antwerp invited Polish organisation Barka. They guide homeless people back to their  home country. The team responsible for the project here has started this week. Continue reading →