A week dedicated to dignity at UNamur

From this Monday, March 31 until April 4, various activities are being organized, offering opportunities for reflection and dialogue on how students and staff members can, individually and collectively, strengthen respect for human dignity in everyday interactions.

The program includes lectures, interactive workshops, performances and informal moments of exchange. Since this Monday, nearly 10 activities have already taken place, some of them open to the general public.

Bridge Dinners are among the activities open to UNamur staff and students. The concept? Convivial lunchtime get-togethers where members who don't necessarily bump into each other on a daily basis meet around the same table. Far from the usual circles, these meals are an invitation to meet, exchange and discover in a warm and caring atmosphere. "Beautifully laid tables, a few flowers, words of kindness. This was the setting for the Dîner de Ponts, a dinner shared with a member of staff we don't know. I had the opportunity to meet someone I'd met before, without ever taking the time to chat with them. The result? We got on really well, and time flew by as there were so many things to talk about! Now, I. is no longer a stranger to me, and I have a better understanding of the work of her department. The bridge has been built between two people and two departments who didn't know each other," shares Clémentine from UNamur's Quality Department.

Or, "Rugueux", open to both internal and external UNamur members. This improvisational show with actress-improviser Christelle Delbrouck and assistant stage manager Sophie Jallet, tackled human dignity in an offbeat way or as a real head-on clash. All the while taking people's opinions into account.

Another theme addressed during the week? Empathy! Students and staff had the opportunity to discover a course designed to give them some tips and information to better understand the notion of empathy and better put it into practice. Non-violent communication, a meditation workshop and art therapy were just some of the stops on this journey to the heart of empathy offered by the University Community Life Service (Vécu) and, more specifically, the Medico-Psychological Unit.

Human dignity is a fundamental principle enshrined in UNamur's institutional mission. It implies unconditional respect for each individual, recognizing his or her intrinsic worth and right to be treated with consideration. By emphasizing dignity, UNamur affirms its commitment to creating an environment where every member feels valued and respected.

This initiative is in line with the actions undertaken to promote an inclusive and respectful environment (workshops around the notion of values, adoption of an anti-harassment policy, development of the PHARE scheme and a network of confidants, etc.). It is an integral part of UNamur's commitment to ethical and humanist values, reinforcing its identity as a Jesuit university that cares about people. For UNamur, emphasizing dignity reinforces its commitment to excellence, openness and sustainability, while affirming its identity.

Dignity Week continues until April 4.