Mathilde Invests in Young People

400.000 euro for 18 year olds without a family home

This week it emerged that queen Mathilde will be investing € 400.000 in 18-year-olds who grew up in foster care. Once they reach their legal majority they can no longer rely on foster care and often have no-one to turn to for financial, practical or emotional support.

Three Belgian organisations who help 18-year-olds during this transition time will be able to do so even better now they receive the royal subvention.

Where does the money come from? 

Oeuvres de la Reine/Het Hulpfonds van de Koningin is a fund started by queen Fabiola in 1964. For many decades it gave a one-time financial support to individual pleas from Belgians who adressed the queen, e.g. to prevent a family from being evicted, to buy a computer for a student whose family is without funds...

Queen Mathilde and her team seem to have reorganized the Oeuvres de la Reine/Hulpfonds.

What's changed?

Apart from individual one-time gifts, the Fund will also provide a 3 year financial aid to 3 organisations for young people, in a field that has been let down by financial support from the government. This is a strong personal signal from Mathilde, who's forever been investing in young people's wellbeing, even before she became royal.

Who will benefit from the money?

Three Belgian organisations will receive funds during 3 years. Mathilde has been acquainted with their work through visits or her royal protection.

La Société Royale Protectrice de l'Enfance
Cachet vzw with their project 'Grote Stap'
Koninklijk Werk IBIS with their project 'Bootsman'