19/06 – Ahead of World Refugee Day, IOM is sharing a story through a short video that highlights the impact of Community Sponsorship in Belgium. When Pedro, Beatriz, and their son arrived in Belgium seeking safety, they faced challenges familiar to many newcomers: learning a new language, navigating complex systems, and finding a safe place to call home. Through Community Sponsorship, they found a Sponsor group of committed people who supported them to overcome these challenges.

After arriving in Belgium in search of safety, the family faced many of the challenges common to people rebuilding their lives in a new country. From learning a new language to navigating unfamiliar systems and searching for housing, the road to settling in was not always easy.

The video follows their journey and shows how a group of local volunteers. Joyce, Emma, Reza, and Gia – alongside Herman, a Fedasil volunteer, formed a sponsors group together and supported them along the way. Through Community Sponsorship, sponsors provide practical, social, and emotional support to refugees as they settle into their new communities. Whether helping to understand administrative procedures, navigate the housing market, or simply offering a listening ear, sponsors play an important role in helping newcomers feel welcomed and supported.

Alongside the support provided by the State, this community-based engagement offers an additional layer of guidance, connection, and belonging during a crucial moment of transition.

Community Sponsorship does not solve every challenge that refugees face, but it can make a meaningful difference. It turns strangers into a Community, and the unknown into a home. “The group of volunteers has been a source of support for us in every sense of the word”, says Pedro. His family’s story reminds that truly, ‘it takes a Community to build a home’.

This story is one of six Community Sponsorship groups formed through the RISE (Reinforcing Integration through Sponsorship Enhancement) project in Belgium. Across these six groups, a total of eleven refugees has been supported by volunteer sponsors in Belgium. Their experiences demonstrate how local communities can contribute to creating welcoming environments and strengthening social inclusion.

Watch the video below to discover Pedro and Beatriz’s story.