17u zocalo

Gathering in Muizen

Gathering in Muizen

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 invite 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