The King Baudouin Foundation in Figures Working Together for a Better Society
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Autumn 2017 The Balkans Empowering young leaders and academics Under the Honorary Chairmanship of HM Queen Mathilde www.kbs-frb.be Brussels X, P309439 Editorial Table of contents 2 Editorial Luc Tayart de Borms 3 10 years old: European Fund > Managing Director for the Balkans 4-5 Balkans focus: training young academics 6-7 Progress on cystic fibrosis: Foreword the Forton Fund 8-9 A new life for undiscovered music Welcome to the autumn edition of “shrinking space of civil society in Europe” with the Leuven Chansonnier the International Newsletter. These are and support those trying to “increase 10-11 Boosting young people’s talents precarious times for democracy with the quality of information in the public 12-13 Access to water : the Elisabeth politicians around the world accusing discourse”. We look forward to sharing and Amélie Fund each other of endangering the regular updates with you about the work 14-15 What drives Belgian academics? foundations of modern society of this Fund. and people openly expressing their 16-17 Valuing the work of a Belgian Egyptologist: the Jean Capart Fund discontent with these democratically The refugee crisis, and Europe’s apparent elected leaders. The King Baudouin inability to deal with it, is one of the stress 18-19 What Europeans think about the EU (A Chatham House study) Foundation believes deeply in supporting points that has led people to doubt the work that attempts to understand the ability of politicians. In the Newsletter 20-21 KBFUS already 20 years old; reasons for this unhappiness and many you can read about some of the work KBF Canada starts articles in this edition of the Newsletter we are supporting in this area, including 22-23 Sport and society: the Nike Community showcase this approach. research that underlines the need to Impact Fund welcome and support the youngest 24-25 The needs of young refugees This includes a fascinating insight into refugees arriving on our shores. 26-27 Our ID attitudes towards the European Union 28-31 KBFUS: based on the results of a Chatham Despite these challenges, the success, - Drinkable water access: the mission of the Life-Giving Water Fund in Zambia House study, and a look at how KBF has for example, of the Forton Fund in - A legacy for a home village heritage: been helping, and will continue to help, advancing research on cystic fibrosis the Guillaume Bastiaens Family Fund to foster democracy in the Balkans. (p. 6) and the achievements of KBF's 32 Et cetera US arm (p. 20), both of which celebrate Most recently, together with other 20 years of philanthropic endeavour, colleagues, we helped to set up the highlight the significant impact of PUBLISHER: Fund for Democracy and Solidarity in targeted long-term funding and offer Luc Tayart de Borms rue Brederodestraat 21 Europe to boost efforts to revitalize inspiration for the future. I hope you B-1000 Brussels, Belgium our democracies. The Fund, which will enjoy this edition of our International T: +32-2-500 4 555 [email protected] • kbs-frb.be become operational at the end of the Newsletter and look forward to hearing IBAN BE10 0000 0000 0404 year, will focus on projects tackling the your feedback and suggestions. BIC BPOTBEB1 The King Baudouin Foundation is an independent, pluralistic foundation EDITORS: Sabine Deboosere, Iadine Degryse CONTRIBUTORS: Debra Lodoen, Philippa Nuttall Jones, Peter Raeymaekers, working in Belgium and at the European and international level. We are Isa Van Dorsselaer PROOFING: Philippa Nuttall Jones, seeking to change society for the better, so we invest in inspiring projects Greta Peirs DESIGN: PuPil PRINTING: Bietlot ILLUSTRATIONS: Abantu Zambia asbl (p. 13a), Apopo vzw (p. 20b), C. Pimenta and individuals. In 2016 we provided a total of €41.9 million in support to (p. 23), Chatham House study (pp. 18b, 19), Défi Belgique Afrique 2,211 organizations and individuals. The Foundation was set up in 1976, (p. 12), F. Toussaint (pp. 2, 10-11, 21, 24, 25a), Globalbookends th - Wikimedia (p. 32a), Iles de Paix (p. 13b), J. Gradascevic-Pleh on the occasion of the 25 anniversary of King Baudouin's reign. (pp. 4-5), Imagebroker – Belga image (p. 28), M. Kastelic (p. 15), MAXPPP – Belga image (p. 14), MRAH – KMKG (pp. 16, 17), Pixabay – CCO Public Domain (p. 18a), PhotoAlto – Belga image (p. 22), Photographee.eu (pp. 6-7), PuPil (pp. 26-27), R. Stevens (pp. 8, 9b), Rawpixel.com (p. 25b), S. Herbst (p. 3), Follow us on S. Lenaerts (p. 32b), The Nelson Mandela Foundation (p. 20a), University of Sarajevo (cover), VRT (p. 9a). 2 THE BALKANS Fostering democracy in the Balkans Ten years ago the King Baudouin Foundation, joined forces with the ERSTE Foundation, the Compagnia di San Paolo and “By further fostering the Robert Bosch Foundation, to help foster good governance democracy in the Western in the Balkans. Zoran Nechev, Senior Associate Fellow at the Balkans, we are propelling the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), explains European integration process.” the importance of the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) ZORAN NECHEV, Senior Associate Fellow at the European Union and why its mission is as critical today as it was a decade ago. Institute for Security Studies Since its inception, the EFB has paid blames this on a “constellation of organizations that debunk myths for 153 government officials to be circumstances,” rather than issues about ‘pro-European political leaders’ trained, funded fellowship grants for specific to the Balkans. “By fur- in the region, who sell national reforms 203 young leaders, supported 150 ther fostering democracy in the as part of the EU accession process researchers and funded 95 think Western Balkans, we are propelling while conducting them in a way tanks. This, and related work by the the European integration process,” that fortifies their position and influ- Fund, has significantly contributed states Nechev. “Only democratic ence in society”. Nechev agrees that to the “development of vibrant civil countries can become members of the EFB’s role in the Balkans will societies in the Western Balkans,” the European family, and this is cru- remain essential in the years to says Nechev. cial for the EFB’s mission.” come - both to disseminate positive results from the region across the EU accession Debunking myths EU and to emphasize the Western While the EU accession process of One of the Fund’s vital roles in this Balkans countries’ role in helping the Balkans countries may seem process is “supporting the work to address the challenges faced to have progressed little, Nechev of individuals and civil society by the EU”. MORE INFO? www.balkanfund.org 3 Training young academics in the Balkans Five years ago, the King Baudouin Foundation added the training of academic newcomers in the Western Balkans to its agenda in the form of TRAIN - the Training and Research for Academic Newcomers program. Katarina Zeljic, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and Evolution at the University of Belgrade, explains why she decided to get involved with the project and why she hopes that more young academics will have the chance to benefit from similar opportunities. The objectives of the TRAIN are to The trainers were initially from a How does develop, implement and evaluate a variety of European universities and the TRAIN project work? structured professional development organizations. However, since 2014, “I found out about the project via an training program consisting of seven the trainings have been delivered e-mail from my faculty. The project is modules for new academics at four by experts from the Balkan univer- divided into several modules cover- universities in the Western Balkans. sities participating in the program. ing different topics that are organ- These are the University of Sarajevo, Over 1000 participants have ben- ized during the winter and summer the University of Belgrade, efited from TRAIN since it was set semesters. After applying for a the University of Novi Sad and the up, including Katarina Zeljic. particular course, I met up with the University of Montenegro. participants from different faculties Why did you decide to partici- and institutes which belong to the A key aim of the program is to provide pate in the program? University of Belgrade to attend the participants with the knowledge, skills, Katarina Zeljic: “I recognized that one-day or two-day long courses.” motivation and confidence to enhance I had a lack of lecturing and soft their own practices and teaching and skills that are useful for good teach- What was the best part thereby improve student learning, ing and for research, such as how of the project? their own research and their contribu- to find appropriate calls for projects, “In addition to all the practical infor- tion to society and industry. TRAIN is and how to write and organize pro- mation, the great lectures and good also focused on improving collabora- ject proposals. I had been curious speakers opened new areas of tion among new academics, expand- about what the TRAIN program had thinking, of teaching and of research ing their networks and enhancing their to offer and so decided to apply to me. I immediately started imple- capacity for educational leadership. to join it.” menting my newly acquired knowl- 4 THE BALKANS edge in my everyday life as a lec- presentations of scientific results; Do you have any recommenda- turer and in my research practice. I where to find information on project tions to improve the program? also met a lot of new people from calls; and what is most important “Yes, the visibility of TRAIN should different faculties and institutes at when preparing projects. In fact, the be improved through advertising the University of Belgrade during the list is nearly endless!” via the appropriate academic and training.” social networks so that more peo- There were obviously lots of ple know about it and can benefit.