DUNE asbl (Belgium)
Created in 1998, DUNE is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation focused on public health and social care. Its goal is to improve the physical, mental, and social health of drug users. These individuals experience social exclusion, leading to a reluctance to access and benefit from healthcare services.
DUNE's operational objective is to provide a set of services for healthcare and aid, creating a favourable environment for their beneficiaries' social inclusion, recovery, and self-determination.
The improvement of the social and health condition of drug users has a positive impact on their drug consumption, enabling a more controlled consumption which decreases the damage to their health and social integration, as well as to their families and the wider society.
DUNE acts as a mediator between reality on the ground and institutions. They advocate for the rights of their beneficiaries, provide them with access to healthcare and protect their human dignity.
In 2021/2022, the Eurofins Foundation supported DUNE's plans to provide healthcare and aid to vulnerable drug users in Brussels (BE) through a holistic set of services, forming a system to respond to the problems encountered by drug users. Access is unconditional, anonymous and free of charge.
The system revolves around four key areas:
- Structural services and primary products: Permanent social service, a medical dispensary, harm reduction equipment access, food aid and hygiene services.
- Frontline services: An outreach platform offering support to our beneficiaries in their local areas, a mobile medical bus (Médibus) and a service to grant access to administrative and health services.
- Participation and social integration services: A participative platform including community activities, peer-to-peer projects, focus groups, and alternative paid jobs.
- Information campaigns and preventative measures: Campaigns and measures to promote health and harm reduction.
The Eurofins Foundation’s grant enabled DUNE to increase its capacity:
- Reception service increased by 23%;
- The numbers of visitors Dune supported increased by 27%;
- Its mobile support increased by nearly 170%;
- Its support on social procedures increased by 58%.
In 2022/2023, the Eurofins Foundation renewed its support to DUNE for a new project, supporting the Creation of a bicycle sales and repair shop as a social economy enterprise to support professional opportunities and experience.
This grant support enabled DUNE to undertake the necessary actions for project development and the production of the expected deliverables, including but not limited to:
- Clarifying the mission and vision of the business project and the working methodology with the establishment of a steering committee;
- Identifying all the cycle companies in Brussels by conducting interviews with potential customers and meeting with companies in the sector;
- Updating DUNE’s governance model related to the creation of a new cluster;
- Identifying the various public and private funding opportunities available to the project and participated in information sessions;
- Acquiring the necessary resources (premises, investments, tools, suppliers, conducted activities and prospecting).
Thanks to the work carried out in 2022–2023, “Bécane”, a bicycle sales and repair shop coupled with an employment support program for vulnerable drug users, is ready to be launched in 2024. The Eurofins Foundation renews its support to this project for the period 2023/2025.
This project contributes to the following United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal
