Compassionate Week

Programme

Monday 17 november

11:30 - 13:00: Workshop - Grief and Loss in Children's Literature (ENG)

📍 VUB Main Campus, Etterbeek

• What: In this workshop, we will take a look at how children's and young adult literature represents grief and loss. The discussion of excerpts from a range of texts - from pictures books to poems - will be used to kickstart the conversation about how children's literature can be used as a tool to help us care for those around us who experience loss and grief.
• Practical: No priori experience is required to participate in the workshop. If you are interested in joining, please register here by the 5th of November.
• Teacher: Kayra Maes, a PhD student at the Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings (CLIC) at VUB, where she is working on a project on the representation of care in contemporary Black British children's literature.
   

17:00 – 18:30: Voices of Compassion (NL/ENG)

📍 Pilar Box, VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

• What: This evening  is dedicated  to mourning and healing  through texts, poems, stories, songs, in any language. Members of the VUB community and beyond will share their work or the work of others that promotes  compassion in the face of loss. This evening of music and poetry promises to be an unforgettable experience, one you definitely don't want to miss!
• Do you have a poem, text, or piece of music you would like to share? Whether it's your own work or someone else's? Please fill out this form or send an email to Tara.Brusselaers@vub.be. 

Wednesday 19 november

13:00-14:00: Webinar - "Grief in Higher Education: Practical Guidance for Support and Sharing Experiences"  (ENG)

📍Online

• What: Research suggests that at least 10% of students will experience a significant loss during their time at university, and 24% of staff have been bereaved in the past year. So why is no one talking about grief? And why is support still so limited? This session will be introducing the HE Bereavement Framework, a new resource by The Student Grief Network based on in-depth research and hundreds of conversations with students and staff. The framework outlines the impact of grief within Higher Education – from health and wellbeing, to academic performance and employment challenges - and provides practical steps for improving support.
• Teacher: The session will be led by Anna May, founder of The Student Grief Network and Executive Head of Kaplan International Grief Programmes. Anna lost her brother as a child and her dad while studying at university, and now has over seven years experience delivering training, consultancy, workshops and events for bereaved university students and the staff that support them.
• Practical: The event is free and open to all. After registering, you’ll receive a link to join the webinar online. Please register here.

12:00-14:00: Compassionate Cards and Remembrance Tree

📍Esplanade, VUB Main Campus Etterbeek & VUB Health Campus Jette 

• What? Write a card for someone you miss or want to support. You can also leave a ribbon in our “tree of comfort.” Cards and postage are free of charge.

17:00-18:00: Moment of Comfort

📍Esplanade, VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

• What? Since 2019, the VUB has commemorated students and staff we have had to say goodbye to each year. This is done through a modest ceremony during a Moment of Comfort at the Monument of Comfort. During this short, intimate ceremony, we listen to a few brief speeches, interspersed with music.

18:00-19:30: Compassionate Café

📍Bar Buna, VUB Main Campus Etterbeek

• What? After the ceremony, you are warmly welcome at the Compassionate Café. This gathering offers a space to talk in an informal atmosphere, to share memories, and to engage in open conversations about loss, grief, and caregiving.

This week is an initiative of Compassionate University.