In Anderlecht, a new, fully equipped facility offers more than 1,000 vulnerable children from Brussels the opportunity each year to care for animals, connect with nature, and build confidence in a farm setting.
Happy Farm is a social-impact educational farm founded in 2012, now located at the Ferme du Chaudron in Neerpede, Anderlecht. Its mission is simple and powerful: to ensure that all children, regardless of their background or abilities, have access to high-quality recreational and educational activities that bring them into contact with animals and nature.
Happy Farm specifically targets children ages 4 to 12 from underprivileged neighborhoods, children with disabilities or special needs, and children with autism spectrum disorder. Each year, approximately 1,000 children are welcomed free of charge, thanks to partnerships and private donations.
The farm offers school field trips, summer camps, family days, and a homework club for children from the neighborhoods surrounding Anderlecht. It also organizes specialized programs for children with special needs, providing dedicated one-on-one support during each activity. A small team of five staff members works alongside volunteers and partner organizations to make all of this possible.
When a move leaves a lot empty
In September 2024, Happy Farm moved from Dilbeek to the Ferme du Chaudron in Anderlecht, bringing all its animals with it. The municipality had provided an undeveloped plot of land. But “undeveloped” really meant undeveloped: no enclosures, no shelters for the animals, no storage space, no play area for the children, no restrooms, and no water or electricity. Before a single child could visit or a single animal could be properly housed, everything had to be built from scratch.
Thanks to a 10,000-euro grant from UFB, Happy Farm was able to develop the new land by building pens and shelters for the goats, pigs, and ponies, setting up storage areas for tools and feed, building a playhouse for the children, installing dry toilets, and connecting water and electricity. The result is a functional and welcoming farm space where programs that change children’s lives can now take place year-round.
“The financial support received for the development of the new facility designed to house goats, pigs, and ponies has significantly strengthened Happy Farm’s capacity for social action. This facility serves as a key tool for improving social inclusion and the well-being of vulnerable populations in Brussels.” – Philippe Vanderschueren, President
Because every child deserves a day on the farm
In Brussels, 2 out of 5 children do not have access to quality recreational activities. Happy Farm is changing that—one child, one animal, one visit at a time. Thanks to donors like you, this work can continue to grow.
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