Brake-Out talks to ministers Beke and Dalle

Every month, the young reporters from Brake-Out explore maakleerplek and put one of its people in the spotlight.

This month, our reporters tried something different. On Thursday 17 March, Brake-Out welcomed ministers Beke and Dalle. During a special exchange in maakleerplek's canteen, the young people led an energetic warm-up and surprised the ministers with their bold questions.

Why were the ministers visiting Brake-Out?

Brake-Out is a three-year learning programme run by Konekt vzw, an organisation that supports people with disabilities by building on their strengths. Young adults aged 18–30 with cognitive disabilities explore their talents and interests alongside peers, coaches and supporters from their own networks. During the programme, they take concrete steps towards their dreams for the future.

Wouter Beke, then Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health, Family and Poverty Reduction, and Benjamin Dalle, then Flemish Minister for Brussels, Youth and Media, wanted to see this approach for themselves. Together, they visited one of the Brake-Out groups across Flanders. In Leuven, the young people attend maakleerplek two days a week.

An energiser and bold questions

The Brake-Out reporters began with an energiser, the ‘Ketchup & Mayonnaise game’. The group answered questions about their preferences to get to know each other. They then put their bold questions to the ministers, who shared, among other things, what they were proud of and what they dreamed of.

‘It was nice to get to know the ministers,’ says Hanne, one of the young participants. Elien also found it a unique experience: ‘I managed to film the poem Minister Beke recited at the end. I'm really happy about that!’ Martijn added extra energy by spontaneously providing music during the interviews.

Carine De Baets, mother of participant Jasper from Brake-Out Antwerp, also attended. She described the programme's effect on her son: ‘Jasper didn't really know what his talents were. As a parent, it is heart-warming to see how he has blossomed. At Brake-Out, he learned how to use his computing skills. He is now doing an internship and has even had the chance to take training at a media company.’

Why did the young people ask bold questions?

Brake-Out works because it looks beyond young people's disabilities and focuses on their strengths. Coach Lize Peers explains: ‘For three years, two days a week, these 18–30-year-olds work on their talents and dreams. They consider the steps they need to take to achieve their dreams and use their skills to mean something to someone else. An important part is interviewing a role model: someone who has dared to pursue a similar dream. They ask what steps that person took.’ These stories of courage are important to Brake-Out's learning process. Interviewing someone takes courage and preparation too. That is why the Leuven participants wanted to put the ministers through an interview about daring to act. Ministers Beke and Dalle were happy to answer.