MyMachine is a project that harnesses the creativity of both primary and secondary school pupils, as well as engineering students in college. Together they develop the most fantastic devices, which actually work. The purpose is to give students in Flanders the chance to think outside the box and help them realise that seemingly impossible undertakings can in fact be completed successfully through collaboration.

Schauvliege (pictured) was speaking in Mechelen at an event to mark the retirement of Carlo Van Baelen, one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Flemish Fund for Literature (VFL) 12 years ago. She praised the “enormous drive and commitment” he brought to the job: “You strove for the interests of quality literature, sometimes going against the fashion of the day”.