8th house : CREB Anderlecht

Constellations in collaboration with CREB association / Fundraising 2017-2018

The CREB (Children's Rehabilitation Centre in Brussels) is working to create a second day centre for children with multiple disabilities in Anderlecht, after the one in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (see below). The new centre will offer a place to thirty children.

Anderlecht's creation is necessary for different reasons. Firstly, the average waiting time before obtaining a place in a centre for children with multiple disabilities is very long (5 years).

Secondly, the centre is aimed at a very special audience: most of these children have special protective frames for their backs, and many of them have a urinary catheter. Still, they often have to travel a long time to reach a day centre because there are no centres nearby.

By building a centre at the other side of Brussels, the CREB Asbl allows children with multiple disabilities to avoid these long journeys and to significantly improve their quality of life while reducing waiting lists. This will also bring relieve to their families.

Our first priority was to find a place where to build. We found a well-suited location in Anderlecht with the help of Citydev and we signed the leasehold for 25,000 euros per year, which is extremely low. This location will significantly reduce travel time for the children and their parents.

After obtaining the necessary permits, we obtained the final green light from the College of Ministers of the Brussels Region by the end of December 2019. The prime minister of the Brussels Region was present when the first stone was laid on 22 January 2020.

Work began in June 2020 and is progressing rapidly. The installation of the wooden structures has been completed. The frames have been installed, the covering of the curved roofs is progressing well and the screeds are being laid. The installation of the lift is in progress, the false ceilings and the acoustic linings of the walls have begun. The works should be completed at the end of April/early May and the inauguration is scheduled for September 2021.

The total cost (construction and equipment) is estimated at 3,650,000 euros. It will be financed in part by the Brussels Region, for an exceptionally high amount of 2,344,000 euros.

Together with Cap 48 https://www.cap48.be/ and the Rotary, we have taken the initiative to organise a broad solidarity movement around this project. It now brings together the Lokumo Fund (managed by the King Baudouin Foundation https://www.kbs-frb.be/en/),the Mr. M. Delacroix Support Fund https://www.fondsmmdelacroix.org/ , Cap 48 and several Rotary clubs located in Brussels https://www.rotary.org/fr . We are also grateful for the substantial help we received from the National Lottery https://www.e-lotto.be/FR/home. The funds raised are enabling us to carry out this beautiful project with the help of the Brussels Region (COCOF) https://phare.irisnet.be/ .