The Kingdom of Belgium is a small, thickly populated industrial nation in Northwest Europe. It is largely flat and fertile except for the forest-covered hills of the Ardennes in the southeast corner.

Its capital, Brussels, is small compared with other European capitals. Originally a Flemish city it is now predominantly French speaking with over 20% of its 1.1 million residents being non-Belgian. Headquarters of the European Union and NATO, it is also home of the Free University of Brussels. This university, a child of the enlightenment like everything else in Belgium, is divided into French and Flemish speaking parts. As a city Brussels has character but little beauty apart from the few well-worn tourist spots. Architecturally it is a blend of French and Dutch influence, but culturally it feels more Parisian.

The country is almost 90% Roman Catholic (nominal and not very Roman) and the Belgian evangelical church is extremely small: as in many Catholic countries in Europe, evangelicals are seen as a sect. National passions include dining in restaurants (if the budget allows), eating "frites" and mayonnaise, drinking coffee or beer and going to the cinema. Public transport is extensive (Brussels has the most integrated system in Europe, we're told!) and good value throughout the country.

Visa: A visa is required for non-European Union citizens, and application for a student visa (if languages are to be studied for more than 18 hours a week) should be made 4-6 months ahead at the Belgian Embassy or consulate.

Health insurance: It is advisable to arrange health insurance beforehand as it takes six months to arrange in Belgium, and while health care is very good it is extremely expensive without insurance.

Languages: The Team works in the French speaking area of the country. To have the French language is of great advantage and essential for those who wish to focus on work with the national student movements. However, English speakers with neither Flemish nor French can easily participate in the international student ministry, which is in English. All Team members are encouraged to improve or learn French whilst on the Team and formal courses are available at a very reasonable price.

TEFL: With a TEFL qualification it is easy to get work to support the ministry.

In Belgium there are two national student movements: Ichtus serves the Flemish speaking students, and the Groupes Bibliques Universitaires (GBU) works amongst the French speaking (Walloon) student population. The staff teams are very small and they have very difficult and spiritually draining jobs.

Ichtus is made up largely of second generation Christians who may have few non-Christian friends and need encouragement in evangelism. There are seven groups with about 150 students attending nation-wide, a good number coming from Holland to take advantage of the easy access to higher education in Belgium.

The GBU is around half the size of Ichtus with many African and Latino members who are unable to support the work after graduation as they return home. The vast majority of Belgian students return to their parents' homes every weekend, and Christian students to their local evangelical churches, which makes commitment to a student group more difficult.

One of the first jobs for InterAction workers on arrival is to find accommodation. There are usually plenty of rooms available and it is easy to rent something reasonable in a shared student house. These tend to be for eight or more students. The advantage of living in such a place is the opportunity to practice the language. However, it carries with it the risk of not having "helpful" house mates. Shared flats are another possibility although a bit harder to find. It is necessary to budget from €250-320 per month for rent, including heating and electricity charges, and to be prepared to pay up to three months rent "up front" as a bond on a contract. Living costs range from €350-400 per month, including travel, food and social activities. It is not difficult to earn money once in the country through baby-sitting, teaching English, cleaning, piano teaching, or using professional skills in some way. All Team members are encouraged to raise as much of their support as possible before coming. The Team leaders will be happy to write a letter to potential supporters explaining the work if requested. Language courses can cost around €100 for a year's study for EU citizens.

There are 2 main areas of ministry for the team: with international students and supporting the GBU. Among international students we share the gospel through friendship evangelism and and Bible studies, and making contacts by visiting student accommodation, lunching with English-speaking internationals at university etc. There are also central events organized to support and facilitate the one-to-one and small group Bible studies, welcoming international students to regular social evenings. The events and activities reflect a concern not just for the spiritual but also the physical and emotional lives of these students, who often feel isolated and lonely. The Team has also been supporting English speaking international students who are already Christians. The second area of ministry is supporting the work of the GBU through supporting student leaders, helping with Bible study preparation and evangelism, participating in GBU groups and camps, and in whatever other ways we can.

One team member tells of God's faithfulness to her and her faith in him. She had gone through the whole of her first year on the Team with only one reasonable contact with an international student. She felt that God wanted her to stay a second year and to move to live among students. She did this, and discovered that her new neighbour was from Taiwan and, in her words, had almost become a Christian before she left. The friendship is blossoming.