Who we are ?
Our mission
Act to preserve dignity and quality of life
The be.Source Foundation of Public Utility works to preserve the dignity and improve the quality of life of isolated and/or vulnerable older people.
To fulfil this mission, it supports and brings together specialised frontline organisations that work with older people on a daily basis, while also helping to provide concrete responses to the challenges associated with an ageing population.
Why we need to act ?
A societal challenge that concerns us all
The ageing of the Belgian population is accelerating. Today, 1 in 5 Belgians is aged 65 or over, representing more than 2.35 million people[1]. By 2050, this proportion will exceed 25%, meaning that 1 in 4 Belgians will be aged 65 or over[2].
Growing older can also be accompanied by social and economic difficulties. Among Belgians aged 65 and over, 36% live alone[3], 46% report feeling lonely[4], and 15.8% are at risk of monetary poverty[5]. These realities can increase the risk of a deterioration in their health and quality of life.
These challenges are compounded by ageism: age-related stereotypes can reduce older people to notions of fragility, dependency, or being a burden on society[6][7]. Yet older people continue to learn, create, share their knowledge, get involved, and contribute fully to their families and society[8].
In the face of population ageing, responses cannot be solely individual or institutional. The World Health Organization stresses the need for a society-wide mobilisation to address this challenge[9].
Our country therefore needs to adapt as a society and raise greater awareness in order to foster respectful coexistence between generations.
Our vision
Make ageing better a shared ambition
Solidarity lies at the heart of all our actions and initiatives. We firmly believe that a strong and supportive network of organisations can make a tangible difference: helping an older person overcome isolation, making a journey possible, rekindling a forgotten passion, or creating an unexpected intergenerational connection.
Through the projects we support, we aim not only to meet needs, but also to contribute to a society in which older people matter, retain their dignity, fully participate in community life, and are recognised for everything they still have to share, pass on and contribute.
The Foundation therefore seeks to be at the source of a movement of solidarity with older people, capable of changing mindsets and the way ageing is perceived. Because the challenges related to ageing, isolation and financial hardship extend beyond borders, be.Source also aims to spread this spirit of solidarity beyond Belgium.
Values
Transparency
be.Source is committed to acting with clarity and transparency, both in its internal operations and decision-making and in the relationships it maintains with its partners.
Loyalty & Integrity
be.Source acts with respect for its commitments, applicable regulations and, above all, the people it works with and supports.
Rigour
be.Source pays particular attention to the quality and good governance of its activities. It selects its partners and the projects it supports with care and high standards, based on criteria of rigour and ethics.
Altruism
be.Source places solidarity and the interests of the most vulnerable people at the heart of its commitment, regardless of political, religious or ideological affiliation.
Act today to age better tomorrow
The journey so far
Period 2009 - 2016
2009 - First Concert des Cœurs
The first Concert des Cœurs marks the starting point of the be.Source journey. This solidarity event lays the foundations for a commitment to supporting isolated and/or vulnerable older people.
2010 - Creation of the be.Source Foundation
The be.Source Foundation was created with a clear mission: to preserve the dignity of vulnerable and/or isolated older people and address the growing challenges of an ageing population. From the outset, be.Source has been committed to supporting local initiatives and facilitating connections between organisations working to improve the well-being of seniors.2012 - First partner
be.Source welcomes its first partner, Compagnons-Dépanneurs. This first collaboration marks the beginning of a model based on supporting grassroots organisations specialised in assisting older people.2016 - Oprichting van de HUB – 5 partners
With 5 partners now on board, be.Source creates its HUB for coordination and synergies. This platform for exchange, reflection and training enables network members to share their experiences, develop their skills and foster new collaborations.Period 2017 - 2024
2017 - 2017 - Silver Empowerment - HIVA KU Leuven
be.Source launches Silver Empowerment in collaboration with HIVA – KU Leuven. This initiative strengthens reflection on ageing and helps to better understand the realities, needs and aspirations of older people.
2021 - Milestone of 10 partners
The be.Source network reaches the milestone of 10 partners. This growth reflects the gradual development of a network of complementary organisations united by a shared ambition to improve the quality of life of older people.2024 - Public-interest foundation
be.Source obtains the status of a public-interest foundation, an important milestone in its development. This recognition strengthens its commitment and firmly anchors its mission in serving the public interest.Period 2025-2026
2025 - First participation in the 20 km of Brussels
For the first time, be.Source takes part in the 20 km of Brussels alongside its partners and supporters, bringing together 244 runners and walkers. The event helps raise public awareness of the challenges of ageing, change perceptions of later life, and raise funds to support the network’s initiatives.
2026 - 15 partners and impact evaluation
The be.Source network reaches 15 partners and continues its efforts to better evaluate the effects of the initiatives it supports. A first social impact assessment highlights the concrete benefits of these initiatives for the well-being and quality of life of older people.
