Beethoven gala concert to raise funds for needy women and children

The Association Femmes d’Europe is a worthy organization that aims to help needy women and children in Belgium and elsewhere in the world.

Each year, it organizes a special event to mark the incoming EU presidency (currently Latvia) and to help raise funds.

This year, the event is a Beethoven gala concert at 19h30 on 1 April at St Jean Berchmans Church, Boulevard Saint Michel in Brussels.

The soloist is Ester Yoo (pictured), an exceptional violinist, who, while born in the US has lived in Belgium for the past 15 years and attended the International School of Brussels.

In March 2014, she made her Royal Festival Hall debut in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

It is worth noting that only 5% of the money raised by the association is spent on administrative costs and that the concert, as with all its events, has been organised by its members and volunteers.

All the profits go to finance the global humanitarian projects supported by the association.

The association is made up of 21 national groups, 19 of which represent different member states of the European Union.

Its Brussels-based communications officer Renate Smith said: “Our association organizes events to raise funds for the less fortunate in our society and this gala is one of these events.  All the proceeds of the events go integrally to the projects supported by the association.”

In Belgium alone, the association supports the following groups:

Maison d’Enfants Reine Marie-Henriette (installation of thermostats on radiators); L’Essentiel (purchase of computer and three tactile screens); Vivre et Grandir (oven for school for children with Down syndrome); Foyer Lilla Monod (renovation of kitchen, purchase of small domestic appliances) and Champion, Collectif Umoya (educational work experience for young refugees).

Other Belgian groups benefiting from the work of Association Femmes d’Europe are Incourt, Les Héliotropes (door for day care centre for people with mental disabilities); Le Pont des Arts (materials for artists working with hospitalized children); La Nef des Songes (equipment for theatre workshop for troubled adolescents); Nativitas (renovation of washing-up area for social restaurant) and Les Petites Sœurs de Pauvres, Missionnaires de la Charité, Poverello (Christmas gifts).

For tickets and further information, click here.

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