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When the holidays become a daily challenge

July 2026

For many, summer chimes with rest, trips away, or time spent with family.

But for many households facing hardship, this period brings above all a new set of difficulties to manage.

When school is out, certain everyday structures disappear as well: school lunches, after‑school care, accessible activities, or simply a stable framework for children.

According to the latest Statbel data, nearly one person in five in Belgium remains at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

Children are particularly affected: according to the federal sustainable development indicators published in 2025, more than one child in five was living at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Belgium in 2024.

A summer that comes at a cost

For many families, the school holidays create additional financial pressure.

Meals usually taken at school must be provided at home, while holiday camps, day schemes, outings or sports activities often remain out of reach because of their cost.

Several studies on child poverty in Belgium — including analyses by the Agence pour une Vie de Qualité (AVIQ) [Agency for a Quality Life] and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation — underline that access to leisure and extracurricular activities plays an important role in children’s well‑being and social inclusion.

The management of daily routines also becomes more complicated.

Between working hours, limited leave, childcare options that are sometimes insufficient, and the cost of activities, families often have to multiply makeshift solutions simply to get through the summer.

This reality is also witnessed first-hand by the teams of the Restos du Cœur.

Over the years, a range of activities has been organised to give beneficiaries, both young and old, opportunities for discovery, relaxation and shared experiences: cooking workshops, days out to Hélécine Castle, Lake Bambois, the Euro Space Center, the Belgian Air Force exhibition in Beauvechain, sports initiation sessions, and excursions to Orval and Chevetogne.

This year, the Resto du Cœur in Wavre will once again take part in an outing to the Aquascope, giving families the opportunity to enjoy a moment of escape and discovery.

Because beyond material support, being able to participate in cultural, sporting or leisure activities also contributes to children’s development and strengthens their sense of belonging to society.

For single‑parent families, this reality is often even harder to manage.

Poverty does not take a holiday

Summer is also a period when certain forms of solidarity slow down: fewer donations, or the temporary closure of some services.

Yet the needs themselves remain ever so present.

At the Restos du Cœur, teams continue to support people facing hardship throughout the summer.

Because behind the statistics lie very concrete realities: parents counting every expense, children missing out on activities or holidays, families simply trying to maintain some balance.

In this context, keeping spaces of solidarity, listening and support open remains essential — in summer as throughout the rest of the year.

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