Pascal Kayaert: Director of Télé-Accueil Brussels. He is a social worker, adult educator and also works as a team supervisor in the psychosocial field. He regularly takes part in interviews and public events on prevention, the use of speech as a tool for care, and support for professionals in helping relationships.

Pascal Kayaert

Speaker

Why is listening provided by volunteers? The strength of volunteering in listening

Speech

The study conducted by the Social Observatory of Télé-Accueil Brussels is based on testimonies from volunteer listeners and a theoretical analysis aimed at understanding why this volunteer commitment is so essential. Listening provided by volunteers offers a unique space for free expression, free from therapeutic injunctions or expectations of concrete outcomes. Trained and carefully supervised, these citizens embody genuine solidarity that helps free speech in the face of social crises, supports people through hardship, and combats isolation. Unlike a professional’s therapeutic approach, which focuses on diagnosis, structured follow-up, and long-term goals for change, volunteer listening values the present moment, unconditional acceptance, and the strengthening of the social fabric. The complementarity between listening provided by citizen volunteers and the professional support network is invaluable: the therapist guides toward deep transformation, while the volunteer offers immediate, citizen-based support.