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A helping hand for little ones and their parents

July 2025

The Restos du Cœur leave no one behind. In Liège, as in other cities, ad hoc spaces have been designed to meet the specific needs of the little ones and their parents. The Parent-Child Space is a sterling example.

A special place for gentle advice and support

A stone’s throw away from the Resto du Cœur in Liège, a small house welcomes parents and children into a warm and reassuring setting, featuring:

a breastfeeding room,
a playroom for children,
a garden for sunny days,
coffee, tea, a kind word, and a moment of rest.

Most importantly, the beneficiaries receive what they need most: powdered milk, nappies, clothing for children aged up to the age of 12, and even outfits for mums. Distribution takes place twice a week by appointment. The service is run by Pauline, a social worker, with support from a team of volunteers.

“It’s a cosy, welcoming place where mums feel at ease. They can come even outside their appointments, just to enjoy a quiet moment with their child.”

Very real needs

Dozens of families come in search of support every week. Powdered milk alone, bought at the chemist’s, costs nearly €1,000 per week. Donations of nappies and clothes help fill the gaps, but bulk orders are often needed.

And the Resto du Cœur in Liège is not the only place offering this type of help:

In Charleroi, another Parent-Child Space is in operation.
In La Louvière, powdered milk is distributed monthly.
In Namur, children can attend an after-school homework club.

Aid that makes a difference

The Parent-Child Spaces of the Restos du Cœur are doing far more than just handing out essentials. They lend a listening ear and provide emotional support and referrals to services such as the ONE (birth and child office), social workers, or care facilities. They are places where families can reconnect, feel human warmth, and regain a sense of hope.

You can support the Restos du Cœur by:

Donating (powdered milk, nappies, children’s clothes),
Volunteering at a nearby Resto du Cœur,
Spreading the word.

Every gesture counts. Together, we can help bring smiles back to the faces of little ones… and their parents.

SUPPORT US

Figures that speak volumes

Child poverty remains a major challenge in Belgium. In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, nearly 25% of children aged up to the age of 6 live below the poverty line—about 80,000 in all (source: Observatoire de l’Enfance, de la Jeunesse et de l’Aide à la Jeunesse, 2023).

In Brussels, the situation is even more stark, with 44% of children affected (source: Kind & Gezin, Armoedebarometer 2023). In Wallonia, one in five children lives poverty (source: Statbel, 2023).

In Flanders, the figures are lower but concerning nonetheless: 8% of the population lives below the poverty line, and nearly 13% of children under 3 grow up in precarious conditions (Kind & Gezin, 2023). This means that thousands of families face impossible choices: food, heating… or milk for their baby.

UNICEF estimates that around 460,000 children live in poverty nationwide i.e. nearly one in five across Belgium (UNICEF Belgium, 2022).

These figures remind us how vital frontline aid really is. Behind every statistic, there is a family, a story, a child who deserves better.