The FUCID (Forum Universitaire pour la Coopération Internationale au Développement – University Forum for International Development Cooperation) was established in 1976 by the University of Namur. Its initial mission was to integrate, within research and teaching, the realities experienced by the poorest countries — then referred to as developing countries — and to promote the establishment of sustainable partnerships with these countries.

For nearly half a century, the concept of development cooperation has evolved significantly, as has the way in which FUCID implements its missions within the University of Namur. 

Rita Rixen, Director of the NGO, will present FUCID’s current orientations as well as its concrete actions on campus : projects carried out for the benefit of students and in collaboration with faculty members and researchers; relationships with the University International Relations Services, and more specifically with the University Cooperation Service; the funding mobilized to carry out its projects; partnerships with other Belgian university NGOs—ULB Coopération, Louvain Coopération, and Eclosio—which are members of the Uni4Coop consortium; finally, the current challenges faced by FUCID, both within the context of the Belgian NGO sector and in its role as a recognized association in lifelong learning — a form of non-formal education closely connected with the associative world — supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Rita Rixen, Director of FUCID, has been involved with the association since completing her master’s degree in economics at the University of Namur in 1990. She has successively held the positions of Project Officer, Deputy Director, and, for the past three years, Director of the organization.

Ucoopia, Europe’s first inter-university NGO, is the result of successive mergers between university-based NGOs in Belgium, with the current support of ULB, ULiège, and UMONS. Each merger was driven by a motivation to pool complementary strengths, break down disciplinary and institutional silos, increase efficiency, and address the growing complexity of social and environmental challenges.

Ucoopia’s core mission is to improve living conditions for communities – in health, environment and more – through tangible, sustainable impacts. The organisation mobilises experiential and academic knowledge from all regions, using systemic and interdisciplinary approaches and fostering dialogue among all stakeholders – beneficiaries, public authorities, grassroots groups…

To address current challenges at the macro, meso, and micro levels, Ucoopia fosters adaptive resilience and strong foundations, co-creating sustainable and inclusive solutions for meaningful social change.

Ucoopia demonstrates its university-specific added value with projects that are academically enriched, practical, and beneficial for research, teaching, and students – from real-world research sites for training (engineering, architecture, agriculture, medicine, anthropology, history, and more) to partnerships that enhance both project quality and academic utility. Ucoopia also strengthens the international profile of its partner universities. In Belgium, its work with students encompasses activities within or outside their curriculum, all aimed at developing a critical perspective on global issues and strengthening their capacity for individual or collective action.

Ucoopia, together with the Uni4Coop consortium and wider networks, sets a path for smarter, more collaborative action for global development – anchored in knowledge, innovation, and social engagement.

Ucoopia will be represented by Julie Simon. Julie Simon is currently deputy director of the NGO ULB-Coopération and will be the future director of the NGO Ucoopia. She studied sociology at ULB and then criminology at ULiège. She has been a researcher in penology and environmental sociology, has worked in addiction care coordination, and has been working in the NGO sector for around ten years.

Bouworde is a Belgian non-profit youth organization that strives for a world in which the rights and dignity of every individual are respected. 

Our mission is to broaden young people’s horizons, guide them in their development into critical andresponsible global citizens, and foster a strong sense of solidarity and social engagement.

As an educational organization, Bouworde gives young people the opportunity to discover the world in a different way, by volunteering in meaningful social, technical, or ecological projects both in Belgium and abroad. Through these hands-on experiences, participants learn to work together, encounter new cultures, and become aware of global inequalities and societal challenges.

We believe that real learning happens through experience and connection. By stepping out of their comfort zone and working closely with local communities, volunteers not only contribute to sustainable development but also gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their role in the world.

Bouworde’s approach combines solidarity, intercultural exchange, and personal growth. Our projects encourage young people to take initiative, develop empathy, and act responsibly, key skills for shaping a more just and inclusive society.

Since its foundation in 1953, Bouworde has sent thousands of young volunteers to dozens of countries worldwide. Although the context has changed over the decades, the essence remains the same: by building together, sharing experiences, and supporting one another, young people build not only homes or community projects, they build bridges between people and cultures.

Bouworde continues to look forward with optimism and commitment, empowering new generations of volunteers to make a tangible difference and contribute to a better world for all.