Every day care workers, cleaners and teachers perform essential work that keeps society running. Caring at home and in the private sphere is equally vital. Without clean homes and workplaces, without education and support, no one stays alive.

We all depend on care. And yet that vital work often remains invisible and undervalued. Why is it only called "love" when you care for your child, (sick) parent, partner or neighbour, when surely your care also contributes to the general well-being in society? And why is it underpaid when you outsource that same work to others who have made caring their profession?

Who cares? Who does all this caring work? Who cares about them? While workers in education and childcare commit themselves every day, they have to suffer work overload and staff shortages. Cleaners are also dencouncing low wages and poor working conditions for years now. 

Who do we want to care for and how? Why do we fail to provide everyone with the care they are entitled to? There seems to be no end to the waiting lists in the care sector.

Can't we handle this differently? What if we work together to build a society that really centers care? 

Author and journalist Heleen Debruyne will discuss all these questions and more with: 

Yasmina Akhandaf, secondary school teacher and lecturer in teacher education, also co-founder of Baas Over Eigen Hoofd! (BOEH!) and Green Deen.

Zehra Eviz, social worker at SAAMO Ghent, where she is co-coordinator of the Belangenbond for cleaners subcontracted by public services.

Philsan Osman, community-builder and writer, co-author of Voor wie willen we zorgen? Ecofeminisme als inspiratiebron (EPO 2021). 

Noëmi Willemen, historian and illustrator, who advocates, among others with the Crisiskabinet Kinderopvang and De Kinderopvangzaak, for quality childcare and a sustainable approach to parenthood and care.

The evening will be opened and closed by the versatile and inspiring poet Samira Saleh, known from, among others, Mama's Open Mic.

This programme came about in cooperation with the Collecti.e.f 8 maars Antwerp, and Furia vzw, Ella vzw, Femma and ACV, members of the Zorgcoalitie that stands up for more recognition, appreciation and a more equal distribution of care.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Khadija Hyati and Anaïs Van Ertvelde cannot be there anymore, but we are very happy that we have found two other powerful voices to join Philsan Osman and Noëmi Willemen on stage.

Artwork: Le cœur à marée basse