Digital Storytelling - Online Training for Facilitators

Maks vzw is an NGO recognised as non-formal adult education and youth centre, empowering people to create their own success stories since 1999. Maks vzw is located in one of the most deprived neighbourhoods of Brussels, named Kuregem. Most inhabitants here come from an immigrant or refugee background. Within a population of about 25,000 spread over just 2 km2, there are over 112 different nationalities. The rates of unemployment (around 30%) and illiteracy (50% only primary school degrees) are high. In 2013 youth unemployment increased to an alarming 52%. The average income per person is under 700€ a month, which is less than half the average of the Brussels Region. Against this backdrop, Maks vzw offers two open IT learning centres where people can take low-cost courses or workshops tailored to their needs and counselling service, helping people get a job. Keeping barriers as low as possible, we encourage people to actively expand their digital skills to participate in 21st-century society.
Our aim in this is to facilitate social mobility by fighting digital illiteracy on all levels. In the counselling service, we teach them how to orient themselves professionally and how to apply for a job. Maks vzw has about 54 employees, but 25 of the employees are youngsters trained on the job as an educator in multimedia or desktop publisher (graphic design-web design). Annually, Maks vzw coaches about 700 adult job-seekers and 100 youngsters between 18 and 25 years old. In the IT centre, we reach 2700 inhabitants from 6 to 99. Maks vzw has been working for 20 years in one of the poorest neighbourhoods of Brussels and Belgium. We aim to activate people and empower them in the labour market and at school.
Our methods are based on ICT education. People from disadvantaged groups are attracted to digital media and are at the same time aware that they are at risk of being excluded. Maks vzw specialises in using digital media to give disadvantaged groups a voice, inviting them simultaneously in a lifelong learning process and an integration process. Taking part in essential dialogues about poverty, elections, domestic violence, and hate crimes, Maks vzw helps people reflect and change attitudes. Our project Capital Digital accompanies youngsters from 15 till 18 to become coding animators and give courses to children from 8 to 12 years. We are currently conducting several workshops with youth at risk where they realise a digital story with their lockdown experiences.