KOMBI
KOMBI (Powerful Encounters Make Better Initiatives) is a two-year partnership between Kubat’s vzw, Ghent Police, the City of Ghent, and eCO-CITY, with Artevelde University of Applied Sciences on the steering committee. The project aims to strengthen trust and dialogue between citizens—especially young people—and the police in Ledeberg, New Ghent, and Dampoort.
Between September 2024 and June 2025, around 30 activities took place: sports initiatives (boxing, wrestling, basketball, football), informal encounters (soup gatherings, a winter breakfast, cooking together), and educational workshops (firework safety, communication, self-defense). Activities were held at accessible venues such as youth centers, community hubs, sports halls, and public squares, ranging from small group sessions to large-scale events.
Collaboration with organizations like VZW Jong, De Serre, Ghent Basketball, and others—combined with feedback loops to neighborhood coordinators—bolstered local support. Police officers were present at over 60% of the activities, which was experienced as particularly positive.
Changing perceptions and lasting impact
Conversations with young people show a clear shift: from reticence to curiosity and mutual respect. The police are seen less as a purely controlling force and more as human and approachable. Young people feel heard; officers report greater visibility and approachability on the street.
PolarProf documentary series
In autumn 2024, the Hannah Arendt Institute (HAI) partnered with the KOMBI project on the three-part documentary series PolarProf. The films show how low-threshold sports, neighborhood networks, and long-term collaboration help rebuild trust in institutions—such as the police. The series fits within HAI’s theme of anti-polarization and strengthening democracy; KOMBI contributes by connecting residents, young people, police, and partners around shared action and dialogue.
EDUBOX “Young people in dialogue about police and society”
Within KOMBI, Jana Van den Berghe (teacher training, secondary education French & English, HOGENT) developed an Edubox for secondary schools. This Edubox encourages students to think interactively about the police, authority, social media, and civic engagement. It includes, among other things, a methodology on self-image and authority, a statement game, and a reflection on social media and representation. Nicolas De Baere from the School Liaison Office, Ghent Police, provided substantive feedback, strengthening the bridge between youths’ experiences and educational goals.
Transitions and outlook
Several important developments took place during the project. The mediation team within the Ghent Police was expanded, a collaboration with Ghent Basketball was launched, and a proposal was formulated to include KOMBI in the training pathways of new officers.
A new set of activities is planned for autumn 2025. We aim to invest in VR intervention sessions where young people and police teams engage in dialogue, and we will focus on harder-to-reach groups, such as boys from New Ghent.
At the celebration of 10 years of Kubat’s vzw, we will mark the festive conclusion of the KOMBI project. The results will be compiled in a final report that can serve as a basis for follow-up research on “safe to brave spaces,” in collaboration with Artevelde University of Applied Sciences and HOGENT.
