For 8 years, the 'Simple comme une fleur' initiative has been encouraging social connections with isolated elderly people. This year marks a significant step as the action extends beyond the borders of Brussels to reach seven Walloon municipalities. On October 1st, over 11,000 flowers will be distributed in public spaces. The idea is simple: take a flower and offer it to an elderly person.
Giving a flower is a symbolic gesture that primarily facilitates contact. The flower itself is not the goal, but rather what it can trigger: a meeting, a conversation, sometimes a first contact that can continue beyond the action. Since its launch in 2018 for the International Day of Older Persons, 'Simple comme une fleur' invites everyone to take concrete action against social isolation. Volunteers distribute flowers in neighborhoods, encouraging passers-by to offer one to an elderly person.
Being elderly does not necessarily mean being isolated, and isolation does not only concern older people. However, as age advances, certain events—the loss of a loved one, reduced mobility, a change of residence, or the gradual disappearance of social routines—can lessen opportunities to meet others. 'Simple comme une fleur' aims not to speak for the elderly, but to create opportunities for encounters and to remind people that the elderly are an integral part of their neighborhood's social life.
The flowers distributed in the streets are facilitated by neighborhood associations and mutual aid networks that work year-round to strengthen local ties. The action also serves to raise awareness of these organizations. While a flower may create a one-time contact, local associations offer activities, meetings, and forms of mutual support that help maintain these connections over time.
The 2026 edition marks a new stage. After growing in Brussels, 'Simple comme une fleur' is now expanding to several Walloon municipalities. The number of flowers distributed also increases to over 11,000, compared to approximately 6,800 in 2025. In other words, the action is growing, but its principle remains the same: starting with an accessible gesture to open a door to something more lasting.
