Gathering in Muizen
How do we take care of each other here in Muizen?
How affordable are nursing homes?
How do we take care of each other in Muizen?
Who takes care of whom?
How do we organize welfare for each other in a society where individuality is prioritized?
Is the elderly care center affordable?
Is there a need for a service center?
our squares and public buildings are continuously cleaned
by Omar and so many people
sometimes we forget about that
and it is taken for granted
that the village hall is clean and tidy
but it is actually a lot of work
and there are many people who often with a high workload
are cleaning those places
three days a week Nicole
opens the cafetaria as a volunteer
of nursing home De Muze
if volunteers like Nicole
weren't there
it would be impossible for the cafetaria to be open
seven by seven
everything happens with a lot of laughter
and sometimes with some tears
she also strives for more money for health care
because with an ordinary pension
you cannot pay the rent in an nursing home
and that certainly shouldn't be allowed
Philipina Mertens or Pina
was born in Muizen
last century in 1916
she was a pioneer for the social struggle
there wasn't even the right to vote for women yet
she was one of the first to think in larger structures
until her eighties she was the driving force of the socialist party
and the women's movement
and also part of the youth movement De Rode Valken
Pina made a very large pot of soup
and scooped out the soup with a ladle
for the children whom lived in poverty
hence her earrings as a reference
Lily grew up in West-Flanders
but has lived here for many years
every morning at 9 a.m. she leaves her home
to open the door of the church
and the key from the Rerum is also in her pockets
she's very often on the road
working from early till late
when you say she does a lot
that's actually too little
we wonder
who is going to do all that work in the future
every morning and every afternoon
you'll find Jean-Marie at the beginning of Peter Benoitstreet
wearing a fluorescent jacket
and in all weathers
he makes sure that all the schoolchildren
including parents and grandparents
can cross the street safely
not only this
but also, together with Ingrid
he's very active in organizing things
such as flea markets and bingo evenings
under the name Muizen Nodigt Uit
all things to bring people closer together
"if there is anything, just call me" he says
Fons De Cock and a few others
was the founder and inspirer of Red Cross Muizen in 1972
he was always busy helping people
working together was his motto
once on his own responsibility
he took home someone who had been in an institution for 40 years
he died in 1999
and by the Charlemagne festivities in 2000
he was chosen by the people of Muizen as a giant
be assured
that syringe you see there
has nothing to do with corona
or a new campaign against vaccinations
it's just about the nursing home Muizen, De Muze, excuse me
and Deborah has been making the ward for people with dementia for 5 years as teamleader
when there's not enough people she jumps in
and every morning she comes in
and first she checks with the team if everything is going well
then she drinks the inevitable cup of coffee
4 times a month she opens the doors of our Dorpshuis
for the book exchange
but it is more than just an exchange-library
it is also a meeting place
Hilde is also fascinated by archeology
she has an impressive collection of clay pipes
and she collected several folders filled with information
about the history of Muizen
she is always ready to share her knowledge about this
Somsak is the head monk
of the Wat Dhammapateep temple
you always receive tea and something to snack on
or during midday something to eat
you can also meditate there weekly
the buddhist meditation brings us more in contact with the body
in our western culture we are very much above the eyebrows
with our attention
and therefore we need this more and more
gardener Dirk drives weekly with Frida to the store
because Frida can't cross "the mountain" anymore
Dirk helps her with the weekly shopping
every saturday they drive together in the car to Delhaize
on the Leuvensesteenweg
for several centuries
there was a Cistercian convent in Muizen
where passers-by were welcome
though the nuns of Muizen weren't rich
yet our dear lord had seen to it that they weren't short of anything
mother Barbara understood this best
according to time and circumstances
she showed the poor a compassionate heart
every maundy Thursday they give to the pour souls
four quintals of flour
with that they bake bread
with each loaf the poor received a herring
Celina Willems sat in a pre-war wheelchair
and was the mother of a large family
despite her many children
in the thirties
she took care of another mouth
the Spanish Conchita
who as a young girl had fled
from the Spanish civil war
and ended up in Muizen
if Celina were still around today
she would most likely open her home
to people fleeing wars like in Ukraine
or in other places
and notice the watermelons on her scarf
also genocides like in Palestine would certainly haven't left her unmoved
now I want to invit you all
to honor these special giants
together
by holding them up in the air
to honor these special representations of
special people whom take care of others