Save the date for the next ReActMem Events!
April 09, 2026
The project
The European project Rescue Memory – Activism, Arts and Public Remembrance (ReActMem), funded by the European Union, works on new forms of commemoration and new ways of speaking about the past.
ReActMem works with difficult heritage, supporting artistic, research and educational activities, involving local communities and organising further public events. The project approach is derived from the rising tides of “memory activism” and it aims to inspire a collective effort of bringing together activists and institutions to discover and work with the past for the sake of a better future. It addresses antisemitism, racism and different forms of discrimination against other minority groups in Europe.
Upcoming activities
Lunch talks
A series of lunch talks on cultural heritage and restitution post WWII and colonisation.
Each talk features an expert keynote followed by a Q&As session with the audience. They are in French or in English with simultaneous translation provided.
These lunch talks highlight the ongoing importance of addressing cultural heritage and restitution after WWII and colonisation. By bringing expert perspectives to the discussion, they help deepen understanding of historical injustices and support more informed, inclusive approaches to memory, accountability, and restitution today.
Lunch Talk 4
A talk with Rokhaya Diallo on the experience of creating a film exploring the convergence of struggles against racism and antisemitism in the United States. The conversation will examine the intersections of collective memories and highlight the importance of acknowledging and restoring these narratives, connecting them to contemporary issues of social justice.
Guest speaker
Rokhaya Diallo is a French journalist, writer and award winning filmmaker, widely recognized for her work in favor of racial and equality. Her tireless activism has made her “one of France’s most prominent anti-racism activist” according to the New York Times. She has hosted radio and television programs, directed films, authored several books and numerous articles and participates regularly in high-level conferences around the world. As a figure to be reckoned with in the public arena, Rokhaya is one of the rare women of her generation whose voice has become an integral part of the world of media.
Date: May 12th from 12:30 to 14:00
Register here
Trainings
A series of participatory, experiential and interactive trainings, in French and in English, on addressing anti-black racism through a decolonial perspective.
Objectives of the trainings:
- To gain a better understanding of anti-Black racism;
- To raise awareness of the diversity of African cultures ;
- To gain a better understanding of Belgium’s colonial past and, more broadly, that of Europe;
- To gain a better understanding of decolonisation and what it implies;
- To develop individual skills and strategies to recognise and combat stereotypes, discrimination, social exclusion and anti-Black racism;
- To encourage individuals and institutions to work together and take responsibility in the fight against anti-Black racism.
Dates :
1-day trainings in French for local participants:
- Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
- Thursday, May 21st, 2026
- Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026
Register here
1.5-day training in English for international and local participants
- Tuesday, June 16th and Wednesday, June 17th, 2026
Location: Brussels
Register here
Dissemination event – Save the Date!
Programme to be announced soon!
Date: Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Location: Brussels
Past activities
Lunch Talk 1 – October 16th, 2025
A conversation with one of the key negotiators behind Shoah-related restitution efforts in the Netherlands. This talk traced the key stages of the Netherlands’ restitution process, highlighted the political, social, and institutional dynamics that shaped it. We explored the challenges encountered along the way, examined successful strategies and practices, and considered how these lessons might inform contemporary dialogues on decolonization, repair and historical justice.
Guest speaker:
Ronny Naftaniel is the former director of CIDI (1980 – 2013) and a key-negotiator in Dutch Holocaust restitution efforts. He has held leading roles in the Jewish communal life in the Netherlands, including Chair of the Central Jewish Board and founder of the Dutch Jewish Humanitarian Fund. He is currently Vice-Chair of CEJI, Executive Board Member of the Committee for a Free Iran, and Executive Board member of the Dutch Union for Progressive Judaism.
Watch the recording in English here
Lunch Talk 2 – November 20th, 2025
A conversation with Mireille-Tsheusi Robert on the political, social, and symbolic dimensions of returning human remains held in Belgian institutions. The conversation highlighted the links between bodies, memory, dignity, and justice, and the ongoing struggles for reparation and collective transformation. Through the mobilizations for their restitution in Belgium, activists seek to break this continuity of violence, to restore visibility and humanity to those whose bodies have been instrumentalized, and to open a space for reparation, justice, and collective transformation.
Guest speaker:
Mireille-Tsheusi is a decolonial feminist active since 1998. She has written books on decolonizing folklore, art, education, media, and museums. She leads decolonial tours on the visibility of women, colonial history, and racialized people. She launched Belgian’s campaign for the restitution of African heritage, helped shape related laws and contributed to the creation of Square Lumumba in Brussels. In 2019, she was named Woman of the Year by RTBF.
Watch the recording in French here
Lunch Talk 3 – December 18th, 2025
A talk with Sabiha El Youssfi on the restitution of colonial history and the recognition of collective memories. The conversation explored how the narratives of colonization and structural racism have been silenced, and how educational and artistic projects give voice and visibility to these histories while engaging young people in a critical and lively reflection on the past and its ongoing impact.
Guest speaker:
Sabiha El Youssfi is a teacher, project coordinator, and cultural advisor. For over ten years, she has been committed to an innovative pedagogical approach, developing project-based learning aimed at helping young people—often marginalized and from diverse backgrounds—reconnect with the history of their roots and reclaim parts of history that have too often been erased. Her work focuses in particular on the history of African colonization, especially in Congo, and its structural links to racism.
Watch the recording in French here
