Humanistische Jongeren (hujo) Humanistische Jongeren (hujo) is an open, progressive and humanist organisation for youth in Flanders, the Dutch speaking part of Belgium. Hujo challenges children and youngsters to think for themselves and stimulates them to develop into free-thinking and independent human beings. Central concepts in our working are autonomy and free inquiry. We stimulate kids and youngsters to break free of dogmas and prejudices.
Hujo’s working activities are divided into four fields. First of all, there are about 35 local humanist youth groups spread around Flanders. They invent and organise their own activities, choose the frequency of meeting, their target group, etc. Local groups can be youth houses, youngsters and kids groups. The national secretariat supports these groups (when wanted).
Secondly hujo organises vacations for children and youngsters (age 6-15). These humanist inspired vacations are supervised by qualified animators (pedagogical teachers). The third working field concerns trainings for youth workers. Trainings in which they learn how to work humanistically with kids and youngsters and are encouraged to take responsibility. Hujo organises also short trainings (up to 1 day) around themes relevant for youth workers, society or interesting for personal development. Each year, an international event is being organised as well.
Last but not least, hujo publishes several magazines adjusted to the life experience of kids and youngsters. And it offers documentation files on subjects relevant for humanist youth.
It is organised as a democratic non-governmental organisation. The executive board guides the staffmembers and develops the policy together with them. The policy and boardmembers need to be formally approved or otherwise changed at the General Assembly where all the members and local groups can vote on these matters. All volunteers and staff members are young people, up to 35 years of age.
Hujo gives a lot of focus in its activities on international youth work. Hujo is member of IHEYO (International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation, see for more: www.iheyo.org) and has contributed or organised several international trainings and seminars the past years. Actual Program During this summers holiday; we are organising 2 kids holidays (Watersecrets and Teasurehunt), 2 youngsters holidays (Dude, where is the sea and Cirque Royale) and one international trip to Poland under the heading ‘In the track of human rights’, on which will be reported in the next Youth Speak. For more info, look at www.hujo.be!