Valentine’s story

Valentine puts her clothes on a clothing line to dry. A simple gesture, which denotes the autonomy found in the Logis de Louvranges. Small steps in order to regain control of her life (2020).

25/02/2020

“I WANT MY DAUGHTER TO BE ABLE TO GET AN EDUCATION”

Since July 2018, Valentine^[^1], and her three children have lived in a studio at Logis de Louvranges, a shelter for vulnerable women with or without children. A total of 50 women and children live there, waiting to hear if their request for international protection has been accepted or not.

Valentine opens the door of her small apartment. Four sets of wide-open eyes scrutinize her every move. The curiosity of her daughters takes over and their shyness fades away, even if the twins do not let go of their mothers’ side. “They’re two years old,” says Valentine. “And I also have a 5-year-old daughter.”

Daily life at the shelter for vulnerable women

“The twins go to nursery here, my eldest daughter goes to school. On Wednesday afternoon, she takes part in Logis activities with the other children who live here. That’s where she is right now.” says Valentine.

The twins go to the nursery here, my eldest daughter goes to school.

- Valentine, resident at the Louvranges housing

The results of various creative Wednesdays are displayed on the wall above her bed. With the twins in her wake, Valentine lets us look at her eldest daughter’s art. Pride and love can be seen in Valentine’s eyes while we admire at her daughter’s art.

Valentine is not only defined by her status as a mother, she is also curious and organized. She tells us about her latest adventures: “We went to Liege in December, with almost all the moms in two cars,” she says. “I arranged the trip, I researched activities to do there and we visited a lot of things; the views of the city, the Christmas market, etc. It was very nice.”

>> ALSO READ: “You’re only a women” – Dialogue with the residents of Logis de Louvranges

The importance of education for her daughters’ futures

Valentine speaks French and Kinyarwanda^[^2] with her daughters. But she would also like to learn Dutch, even though she currently lives in Wallonia…”In Belgium, you have three languages,” she says. “It will help me find work when I get my papers. I just want to be able to work.”

I just want to be able to work.

- Valentine, resident at the Louvranges housing

A neighbor enters with a bunch of colorful balloons in her hand. “These are leftovers from my son’s birthday party,” she says. Red, blue, yellow, orange and pink…The balloons add color to the twins’ room as they celebrate.

“When they are older, I would like to take my daughters to the Protestant church in Brussels so that they can learn songs and prayers,” valentine says. “And I want them to be able to get an education.”

The girls, for their part, have other priorities for the moment; they launch their new balloons with intense pleasure and are fascinated by the colors that cross the room. Laughter and agitation invade the studio. A simple scene but one that reveals the raison d’être of the Louvranges housing; to offer vulnerable women the security and support necessary so that they can rebuild themselves.

Name has been changed to protect the person’s anonymity

National language of her country of origin, Rwanda.