Queen Rania Visits King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department – Brussels) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah visited the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels on Wednesday, while accompanying His Majesty King Abdullah II on a state visit to Belgium focused on strengthening ties between the two countries.

Belgium’s Queen Mathilde, honorary President of the King Baudouin Foundation, joined Queen Rania while visiting the charity organization.

Geared towards improving living conditions and advocating for social justice, the Foundation has tailored programs for facilitating the integration of migrants in Belgium.

King Baudouin Foundation CEO Mr. Luc Tayard de Borms, Director of the “Boost” project Ms. Francoise Pissart, and members of the foundation’s management briefed Her Majesty on their program’s strategies and milestones since its founding in 2011 as a four-year coaching program for gifted youth from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

The initiative has focused on enhancing the skills and reinforcing the personal, social, and educational development of young people from immigrant families in order to help them succeed at university and in their professional lives in Belgium.

Her Majesty also met with the project’s beneficiaries who shared their stories, and aspirations with the Queen.

Established in 1976, the King Baudouin Foundation provides support to more than 1,700 organizations and individuals each year, and is active across Europe and internationally.

The Belgian government has granted citizenship to over 1.3 million migrants since 2000. With around 25% of its population from non-Belgian origin, the kingdom has developed many policies and initiatives to ensure the smooth transition for migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees into Belgian society and life.