bpost wants to help break the silence around baby loss with new stamps
Today, 15 October, bpost is proud to announce a new stamp issue. The date has been specially chosen, as, on this day, at the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, people around the world light a candle for a deceased child to form a wave of light. bpost hopes to help break the silence around this subject with its new “Whispering stars” stamps.
Tuesday 15 October 2024The loss of a child during pregnancy or just after birth is one of the worst things that can happen to expectant or new parents. The loss abruptly shatters their expectations, hopes and dreams. It’s something that many feel unable to talk about. bpost hopes to help change this with a new stamp issue drawing attention to the subject.
Letter of support
The ‘Whispering stars’ issue shows a drawing of a child in the hands of a person. The child is made of white light. The hands in which the child lies represent the security of that dream. The stamp is round without any corners, almost like a nest – a safe haven. The clouds on the stamp sheetlet are soft and woolly, uncoloured because the dream has not been realised.
The theme was proposed by the stamp’s designer Heike Sofia Villavicencio Rammeloo (37), herself a mother: “When a friend of mine lost a child, I realised that, even as a mother myself, I didn’t really know the best way to show my support. Little by little I realised that you have to take the time to acknowledge the grief and it’s best to do that in various ways. One of them could be by writing letters to each other. I fervently hope that people will use this stamp to do that.”
Acknowledging the child
One of the Belgian organisations that works to break the silence surrounding this subject is Berrefonds, which was founded by the parents of Berre, the son they lost in 2009, three weeks after his birth. “The acknowledgment that the child has existed is hugely important for parents who lose a baby,” says Liesbeth Talboom at Berrefonds. “It does not need to be much: sending a heart on the child’s birthday, for instance By organising a Cherish Week in December we want to raise awareness and encourage everyone to show their heart to families who have lost a child. They can do that by putting up a poster or wearing a badge. “This stamp issue is also a wonderful way to get the message across about this.”
bpost as a megaphone: not the first time
As a leading employer in Belgium, bpost takes its social mission to make a positive contribution to society very seriously. bpost does this by focusing on touchy topics through its stamp issues or through targeted actions. In recent years, following topics have been tackled: freedom and equality for every human being (2023), loneliness (2022), cyberbullying (2021), dementia (2020) and the search for missing children (2018).
Other new issues: crypto, Arlon and Christmas
Three more stamp issues will go on general sale on 21 October alongside “Whispering stars”. They include the long-awaited issue of Belgium’s first-ever crypto stamp, which is available from bpost’s eShop as early as tomorrow, when the advance sale opens. Full information can be accessed here.
Another issue is focused on the city of Arlon. It’s the 14th issue in the “Places of...” series, each of which celebrates a different city. The five stamps depict St Martin’s church, the synagogue, the former Palace of Justice, the railway station and St Donatius’ church, all in a golden autumnal tint. Lastly, reindeer spread Yuletide joy in the “Cheerful Christmas animals” festive issue.
Available when and where?
All four new stamp issues – “Whispering stars”, “Places of Arlon”, “Crypto stamp” and “Cheerful Christmas animals” – are available:
- At the Arlon advance sale on Saturday 19 October (Maison de la Culture d'Arlon, Parc des Expositions 1, 6700 Arlon)
- At the Brussels Philaboutique and in bpost’s eShop from Monday 21 October (advance sale of the crypto stamp from 15:00 on 16 October).
- To order the crypto stamp to a delivery address abroad, you can send an e-mail to philately@bpost.be.
