Interview with Inga Verhaert (deputy for youth, province of Antwerp), Rebekah Delsol (Open Justice Foundation), Yvonne Heselmans (IDEA)

Why is this conference important?

Inga Verhaert: Because trying to find ways to communicate with (vulnerable) young people is not always easy but very important. In our province there are already good projects on education, in collaboration with the police, ... But I am also convinced we can still learn a lot from other good examples.

Rebekah Delsol: Police and their actions, have an impact on young people. This conference can be inspiring on which methods work and which do not.

Ivonne Heselmans (IDEA): Organizing this conference in a big team was inspiring and also the theme of the conference is very relevant. Society is still not inclusive enough although youth participation has been an issue since a long time. The conference is thus important because we have an obligation to listen really to young people.

What is your wish for the conference?

Inga Verhaert and Rebekah Delsol: That everyone will listen very carefully, learns a lot and will share ideas with each other.

Yvonne Heselmans: I hope that when the participants go back home, they will practice what they will have learned and use the new contacts that they will have made.