The neighbours' party

The neighbours' party On Tuesday 31 May, the 'Feest in het gebouw – The neighbours' party' campaign is organised for the third time. On that day, 'I invite my neighbours for a drink'. Year after year, the resonance of this day of fellowship grows. Residents, city and municipality, tenants' committees, owners, neighbourhoods and social housing bodies… everyone is mobilised. The target for the 2005 edition is to reach more than 200,000 participants (in both Flanders and Wallonia) and 4 million in Europe, with 300 partner cities. Although an effective social vector existed for a long time, the urban environment has weakened social bonds and strengthened both individualism and anonymity. Feest in het gebouw builds the city of tomorrow, more human and more welcoming. That is why it is necessary to question everyday relationships and interaction between people, by starting new forms of collective action. Feest in het gebouw is a warm appointment to be experienced with the neighbours: having a drink together, organising an afternoon snack for the children, playing cards, planting flowers in the courtyard, dancing and celebrating, becoming friends with the neighbours. It is also, why not, an opportunity to work together concretely in the building or the neighbourhood on a lasting improvement of daily life. To bring the neighbours along, you can pick up invitations at the 4,000 independent Belgian newsagents or download them at www.feestinhetgebouw.be and then put them in your neighbours' letterboxes. A poster at the entrance of your 'building' is not superfluous either. In the garden, in the hall or elsewhere, set up a table or a plank and two trestles. Bring some aperitif biscuits and something to drink. Ask each neighbour to bring something (a drink, a tart…). Do not hesitate to knock on everyone's door again to say how happy you would be with their presence. Feest in het gebouw is usually organised from 7 to 10 p.m. Info: www.feestinhetgebouw.be