When the world needs us to sit together, listen and connect
Projects
In addition to the Circles, “We have the choice” also develops other kinds of educational, sensitizing and public-oriented activities, rituals and collaborations to support the overarching mission and goals. These activities focus on social, cultural, creative, therapeutic or meditative aspects, or on mediation and restorative justice. These activities are managed in-house, on behalf of or in partnership with other organizations, governments or services.
In 2018
The focus will be on vulnerable target groups, such as young people in multicultural communities. More than anyone else, they are faced with the intransigence of society, polarization racism and extremism, and they have a need to come together to engage in dialogue and connection….
In addition, we will continue our collaboration with organizations from the Muslim communities to organize intercultural Circles during Ramadan.
In March, a book is published by Lannoo (in Dutch and French) with photos made by Johan Van Steen and poems by Kristin Verellen. Parallel to this, the first Johan Van Steen Photography Award will be given. It is an initiative of the Brussels School Group.
Johan Van Steen Photography Award
Deleted: We have received the amazing news that the “scholengroep Brussel” has created a ‘Johan Van Steen Price of Photograhy. It is open to all students Photography who study in an institution in the Capital Region of Brussels. The themes are peace, love and tolerance. The first Johan Van Steen Photography Award will be given in April at the occasion of the exhibition of the laureates BOZAR. Information: http://scholengroepbrussel.be/
Upcoming projects
Past projects
Time to connect • Monthly Online Eye Contact & Circle Ritual
Monthly on Sundays from 3.30pm to 6pm.
Dates Sundays:
– August 30th
– 20 September
– October 11th
– 22 November
– December 20th
We have the choice and Bond zonder Naam and Human Online invite you for a monthly online moment of connection.
You can enjoy authentic human-to-human contact and recharge your battery. Free participation
Make sure you have a good WiFi connection, preferably via computer or laptop with camera.
15h30 – 16h30: ONLINE Eye contact
Join us via Human Online. You can easily create an account.
One minute Eye contact means making real contact with someone else. Without (preliminary) judgements and expectations. Beyond the words. By being in silence with each other in this way, we can experience our shared humanity.
16h30 – 18h: ONLINE Circle Ritual
Registration is required via eventbrite. You will receive the link for the video call by mail. You can login from 16h15 to test the connection. Start Circle at 16h30.
A Circle Ritual gives you the space to stand still, and give voice to what is unprocessed and unspoken. In this way you will find new meaning and resilience to keep standing and to go for authentic choices. We have the choice. Whatever happens to us, we can always choose how we deal with it. A Circle is no ordinary dialogue, it’s about sharing and listening from heart to heart. Anyone can speak, but there is no obligation to speak. Your presence is enough.
Online ritual of commemoration and connection • 22 March 2020
- IMPORTANT CHANGE: THE RITUAL ON SUNDAY MARCH 22ND WILL TAKE PLACE ONLINE DUE TO CORONA PREVENTION.
- When Sunday 22 March 2020
2 pm – 4 pm: ONLINE Eye Gazing Experiment: You can participate via this link: www.human.online. You can easily create an account.
4:30 pm – 6 pm: ONLINE Circle ritual of We have the choice. You can participate via this link: https://zoom.us/j/519436079. You can login online from 16h15 so you can test the connection. Start Circle at 16h30.
Make sure you have a good wifi connection, preferably via a computer or laptop with camera. - What Four years after the attacks in Brussels and in the midst of corona prevention actions, we are nurturing trust in each other. We have the Choice and Bond zonder Naam invite you to a special ONLINE ritual of connection. Welcome between 14h and 16h to participate in the ONLINE Eye Contact Experiment. Where is the connection between people? Look 1 minute into the eyes of a stranger to find out. One minute eye contact means making real contact with someone else. Without (preliminary) judgements and expectations. Beyond the words. By being in silence with each other in this way, we can experience our shared humanity. Every year people in more than 300 cities worldwide participate in The Eye Gazing Experiment. Bond Zonder Naam joins this international movement as a statement for the importance of deeper human connection in times of polarization. Afterwards you can participate in an ONLINE circle ritual from 16h30 to 18h. The Circle offers you a ritual space to find and share words on your personal experience. The circle helps to stand still, connect with others, become conscious about what is important for you, and to find the force to make authentic choices. Whatever happens, we always have the choice to choose love instead of falling into fear and hardening. The Circle is not a usual dialogue, it is about sharing and listening from heart to heart. Everyone can speak, but there is no need to speak. The quality of your presence is enough. The Circles of the voluntary initiative We have the choice create since the attacks of 2016 spaces for standing still and connecting in various intercultural contexts, to promote a sense of community and to prevent further radicalization and violence.
Commemoration 22 March Birchwood Circle
- When Friday 22 March 2019
- Where The Birchwood Circle Memorial is situated in the Zonïen Forest close to the Gravendreef/ Drève du Compte in Watermaal-Bosvoorde (Brussels)
- How to reach the location
By public transport: Train station Bosvoorde or tram stop 8, Lieveheersbeestjes
By car: Park at the parking area of the train station Bosvoorde or Parking BEPARK
Calculate roughly 15-20 minutes of walking time from Bosvoorde station, tram stop or parking area to the Birchwood Circle. On the day the routes will be indicated clearly. - It is important to book to facilitate catering and insurance arrangements. Participation is free
- Program, info en map you find here
Three years ago, we were struck by the terror attacks in Brussels. Hate and terror, so close by, a shockwave went through the country. Since then, We have the choice has been inviting people to commune together in a circle, to listen to each other, heart to heart, despite and irrespective of differences between them, because every day we have the opportunity to make the choice for love above fear.
We welcome everybody and anybody who would like to commemorate the 22nd of March, to a ritual of remembrance at the Birchwood Circle in the Zonïen Forest. The Birchwood Circle is a beautiful monument amidst nature, created by landscape artist Bas Smets after being commissioned by Leefmilieu Brussel. It consists of an open space in the centre of the forest, surrounded by a round bench and 32 birchwood trees, as memorial to the 32 people who lost their lives and the numerous others who were injured on that fateful day.
We will come together in a circle to share what we live and what we feel, each in his/her own language. Nobody is obliged to speak; being present is enough. We will reserve special places for those directly affected by the attacks (victims, close family and friends, intervention- and support services). Anybody can take part in the circle, standing up or sitting down. The circle experience will be enhanced by a musical item by the Framagomi choir.
Whoever wants to, can, prior to the start of the circle ritual, participate in an hour of sitting in silence at the Brichwood Circle. This is an initiative of Silence for Peace.
Please contact us well before the event if you are a wheelchair user, via circles@wehavethechoice.com
This is an initiative of Circles – We have the choice vzw/asbl in partnership with Leefmilieu Brussels, FOD, Kanselarij of the Prime Minister, MIVB, Silence for Peace, V-Europe and Life4Brussels.
Open Circle at ‘Sufi Tales – Round Table’
- When Friday august 24th 20h
- Where DE FOYER – ATELIER M, Werkhuizenstraat 17, 1080 Sint-Jans-Molenbeek
- What ‘Sufi Tales – Round Table‘ is a round table discussion with Dr. Nour Kabbani, a renowned Sufi teacher from the USA. The purpose of this event is a cross-fertilization between organizations acting from the heart. It will be an opportunity to connect and research mankind and the new social paradigm that wants to emerge. You can participate in an open circle of We have the choice at 20h. The event starts at 18h.
- Entrance Free
- Registration Obligatory
Network Circle with FeMENism II – theater voor gelijkheid
- When 13 and 18 August 2018
- Where Destelheide Dworp
- What ‘FeMENism II – theater voor gelijkheid’ is an international youth exchange and is the continuation of ‘FeMENism’, a project organized by La Ligue de l’enseignement in Marseille in the autumn of 2017. The aim is to examine the relationships between men and women and to work together towards gender equality and inclusion. Through a theatre workshop, gender identity and gender stereotypes are investigated by 24 young people between the ages of 18 and 25, from 4 countries. We organize a circle at the beginning and at the end of the work process.
- Participation On invitation only
Circles with youngsters and teachers
- When? starting in May 2018
- Where? several schools in Belgium
- What? intercultural circles with young people and teachers
Reconnection Ritual with choreographer Lisbeth Gruwez and dervish Osman Catik
- Whenr? 22 March 8 p.m.
- Where? BOZAR, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels
- What? Two years ago Kristin Verellen lost her life partner in the terror attack at Maelbeek station. Circles – We have the choice is her response to this and other forms of hardening, polarising and extreme violence. A citizen’s initiative that uses an age-old ritual – the Circle – in new ways, in places where there is a need for people to stop, listen and connect. In places where cultures come into contact with one another, for example. This Reconnection Ritual, with choreographer Lisbeth Gruwez (Voetvolk) and dervish Osman Catik (Derwish Advisory), is also an encounter between East and West. It is an invitation to form a ‘We’ which embraces the ‘I’ alongside hundreds of fellow citizens and young dancers from all over the world.
- Entrance? Free entrance
- Booking? Booking compulsory
Be the Change you want to see in the world
- When? 16 march 2017 from 18.00 till 21.30
- Where? De markten, Oude Graanmarkt 5, Brussel
- Flyer? Programm
- Price? 16 euro
- Register? Till 12 march 2017 via www.demarkten.be
Hart boven Hard
- When? 5 november 2016 – 16:00h
- Where? Brussels