The Louvain-la-Neuve campus of the Department of Education and Social Work is a partner in the PRD-ARES (Research Project for Development) entitled “Towards Sustainable Relocation Neighborhoods: Socio-Spatial Analysis of Housing, Urban Dynamics, and the Integration of Residents”, launched in 2022. This project, conducted in collaboration with Belgian and Moroccan sociologists, architects, and urban planners, focuses on relocation neighborhoods on the outskirts of Rabat and the ways in which residents integrate into them.
A focus on community social work
One aspect of this research looks more specifically at community or collective social work in the context of these relocation operations. This part of the study seeks to address the following questions:
- How can residents’ participation be encouraged?
- How can their involvement and sense of ownership of their neighborhood be fostered?
Within this framework, two study days were organized in February 2025 in Louvain-la-Neuve. These meetings brought together Belgian and Moroccan participants to exchange on community social work practices in their respective countries and to present field-based initiatives.
Strong involvement of HELHa in the project
Isabelle Lacourt, senior lecturer at HELHa Cardijn, is leading this project and represents HELHa in the exchanges. She is currently preparing a trip to Rabat scheduled for early June. Marc Chambeau, practical training supervisor in Social Work, also contributed to the event with a presentation. The results of this study could be integrated into certain courses of the Social Work program, thereby offering students an enriched perspective on social work in an international context.
Published on 11 April 2025
HELHa Social