With just one and a half weeks to go, 150 teams have already reached the final goal of the Keep Moving Challenge. That means our university will donate at least 150 times 20 euros (3000 euros!) to the fund for students in financial need. But what exactly does this fund do? We asked Dimitry Beuckelaers from the University of Antwerp Fund and Fleur Zagers from the Department of Social, Cultural & Student Services.
Why was this fund created?
Dimitry Beuckelaers: ‘The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on people all around the world, including our students. Many students who have to pay for their own studies got into trouble because of the crisis, losing their student jobs due to restrictions and lockdowns. Many restaurants, bars and other businesses have closed their doors, temporarily or even permanently.’
‘It’s an understatement to say that our students found themselves in troubled waters. At the University of Antwerp Fund, we got to work immediately to address this concern. We joined forces with the Diversity Team and Student Services at UAntwerp to help students in financial need by making donations possible. We campaigned both externally and internally to encourage people to support our students by making a donation to the University of Antwerp Fund.’
Have you been getting a lot of donations?
Dimitry Beuckelaers: ‘To date, we’ve received just over 18 000 euros. However, this includes a major donation we received after the liquidation of the Libertas Humanitas foundation (Stichting Internationaal Tehuis voor Hoogstudenten Libertas Humanitas), which amounted to almost 14 000 euros. On the advice of the University of Antwerp Fund, the advisory committee decided to allocate this amount to students in need. Through the Keep Moving Challenge, we’ve received several donations so far from committed donors and staff members, amounting to about 500 euros. Of course, we hope that even more people are willing to help students in financial need.’
How exactly are the funds used?
Fleur Zagers: ‘The donations collected by the University of Antwerp Fund go to students who don’t currently meet all the conditions to be eligible for our social allowance, provided they can show that COVID-19 has caused financial problems for them. Some international students who don’t meet the nationality requirements, for example, are experiencing financial hardship because they can’t find a student job. And there are also Belgian students who aren’t eligible for our social allowance, either because they don’t meet the education conditions or for some other reason, who are now in financial need. Every case is looked at individually and examined by our Social Allowance Committee.’
“We helped 26 students in 2020, and so far in 2021 we’ve helped 8 students.”
Fleur Zagers, Departement of Social, Cultural & Student Services
How can students ask for help, and how many already have?
Fleur Zagers: ‘We helped 26 students in 2020, and so far in 2021 we’ve helped 8 students. Any student who is facing financial difficulties can ask for our help by submitting an application via Social Services (socialedienst@uantwerpen.be). We will then go over all the possible options with them.’
The website of the University of Antwerp Fund features several testimonials in which students explain how the coronavirus pandemic has affected them financially, and how it caused a lot of uncertainty. So take your efforts up a notch during the final week of this challenge and support students who really need it.
Want to make a personal donation? Find out how to do that on the website.