Month: August 2025

Brussels – ViTeS has launched a school bag collection initiative running until August 3, 2025, at its Kringwinkel stores across Brussels and Flemish Brabant, in response to the alarming statistic that 23.3% of children in Brussels live in poverty. Viles emphasizes that such poverty severely impacts educational opportunities for these children.

With the new school year approaching, ViTeS is renewing its appeal for donations of school bags and backpacks. As reported by VRT News, the organization, which operates thrift stores known as Kringwinkel, aims to assist children from families facing financial hardships.

Each year, requests pour in from schools, social centers, and children’s homes for free school bags, yet the supply remains inadequate. Many donated bags are often unsuitable, being either too old or damaged. ViTeS urges the public to contribute good condition or new bags to ensure every child can start school properly equipped.

In Brussels, nearly one in four children is impoverished. The figures are slightly lower in Wallonia and Flanders but remain concerning. ViTeS provides the collected bags to children at no cost after thoroughly cleaning them, thus helping to boost their morale and readiness for the school year.

“Poverty isn’t just a financial problem; it also impacts children’s health, educational opportunities, and future prospects. And these consequences hit the Kringwinkel hard at the start of the school year,”

says Viles.

What can assist the 23.3% of impoverished children in Brussels to start school?

UNICEF highlights that Belgium ranks among the countries with the highest child poverty rates in Europe. In Brussels, the rate stands at 23.3%, while it is 16.2% in Wallonia and 7.3% in Flanders. ViTeS is committed to alleviating this issue by providing free school bags to children in need and encourages individuals to donate any unused bags.

ViTeS calls upon the community to donate school bags for underprivileged children, as the demand far exceeds their current supply. They receive numerous requests from schools and care organizations seeking assistance each year.

Individuals interested in supporting this initiative can deliver school bags or backpacks to any ViTeS thrift store. All Kringwinkel locations in Brussels and Flemish Brabant are participating in this collection effort, ongoing until August 31, 2025. Once collected, bags will be sorted and cleaned.

Officials report that each year, many children in Belgium begin the school term lacking essential supplies, including a suitable school bag. Organizations like ViTeS regularly respond to requests from schools, social services, and shelters to assist these children. The annual collection campaign by ViTeS aims to gather usable backpacks and provide them free of charge to children from low-income families, reports 24brussels.