Official launch of the projects selected in 2022 under the call for project proposals of the National Action Plan on Integration

Following the call for projects 2022 "Zesummeliewen - lokal engagéieren a matmaachen" within the framework of the National Action Plan (PAN) launched by the Department of Integration, 7 projects promoting political participation and citizen involvement in Luxembourg were selected by the Interministerial Committee for Integration for a total funding of 740,000 euros.

In her welcome speech, the Minister of Family Affairs and Integration, Corinne Cahen, congratulated the PAN 2022 project leaders for their commitment and stressed the importance of supporting structures committed to promoting cultural diversity in Luxembourg. She reiterated the objective of the National Action Plan to create intercultural "bridges" and thus to promote the inclusion of populations of various origins. According to the Minister, the 2023 municipal elections offer a framework for such initiatives. Participation in the municipal elections will allow non-Luxembourgers to make their "voices heard" and to influence life in their municipality.

Networking of 20 structures and about a hundred actors for innovative pilot projects

The event allowed participants to discover the seven projects selected for 2022 and to put in contact the different actors involved in the implementation and follow-up of the projects selected over the last two years, with the aim of creating synergies leading to possible collaborations.

The morning ended with a free exchange between the guests during a networking lunch organised by the Department of Integration. This was an opportunity for young creative structures to confront their ideas with more experienced organisations and to lay the foundations for future original pilot projects.

The areas of intervention of the 2022 call for project proposals

On 8 October 2021, the Department of Integration of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region launched a call for projects to promote the integration of all residents of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, as well as cross-border workers. The selected projects are currently underway and will run until December 2023. They are available on the website of the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region.

The PAN 2022 call proposes two areas of intervention:

1. The "Political participation - informing and raising awareness among foreigners, particularly young voters" axis, which mainly targets projects aimed at raising awareness and training foreigners residing in Luxembourg on voting rights and conditions with a view to the next communal elections on 11 June 2023.

2. The "Citizen participation - mobilisation and involvement of the target public in intercultural living projects" axis, which aims to develop innovative approaches to encourage citizen involvement, with the aim of promoting participation in social, cultural and political life.

The 7 structures invited to present their project are the following:

Area of intervention: Political participation

1. ASTI (Association de Soutien aux Travailleurs Immigrés)

Project: Ech wielen - I vote

The project aims to set up an IT tool (website) allowing the user to discover the different aspects of national, European and local elections through fun animations.

2. Zentrum fir Politesch Building

Project: Gemengenwalen fir jiddereen!

The project aims to raise awareness about elections in general and to encourage non-Luxembourgish potential voters to register to vote. The project proposes three informational materials:

• Three explanatory videos that inform and sensitize the public on the functioning of the municipal elections, the competences of the municipality and the interest of voting.
• A pocket-sized, easy-to-read flyer explaining how to fill in the ballot. This flyer can be carried in the voting booth on election day and offers support for people with language barriers or learning difficulties.
• A fair booth with equipment such as can shooting, wheel of fortune, duck fishing and cotton candy, etc., raising questions about elections, political participation, the right to vote and involvement in the community.

3. Association Luxembourgeoise pour le Dialogue Interculturel (ALDIC)

Project: Political participation: from talking to doing

The project consists in offering young people, and more particularly non-Luxembourgish young people, awareness-raising workshops on political participation and action workshops including all the practical information related to political participation via sessions of the Dignityland game using the methodology of non-formal education.

Area of intervention: Civic engagement

4. Ara International Community Radio Asbl

Project: International Journalists: Wafaa Abo Zarifa

Letz Talk Café is the first step in ARA International asbl's project Your Story. Your Voice.Women are currently meeting regularly in a social setting with project leaders to build mutual trust before embarking on the workshops the team have planned to empower women from all communities in Luxembourg to share their stories.

5. Art Square Lab

Project: Rethinking local or regional welcome events and designing an analog and digital toolkit

The project will support municipalities in the development of a welcoming event that will initiate a meaningful engagement of newcomers in these cities. Particular emphasis will be placed on a participatory approach by promoting dialogue and exchange between individuals from different cultural backgrounds.UP FOUNDATION

6. Project: TANDEM

TANDEM is a mentoring programme that connects mentors with vulnerable children and young people from multicultural and disadvantaged backgrounds. By accompanying and supporting the children and young people in the different situations of their lives, the mentors help them to discover new interests and prospects and to rebuild their lives, thus contributing to their well-being, personal development, academic performance and integration into society.

7. FWRD SARL-S

Project: Fit4Gaming: Where integration meets gaming

"Fit4Gaming" is a project aiming at promoting cooperation, exchange and solidarity in a multicultural environment using video games (i.e. gaming/sports). Many integration projects already exist in the field of sports, but often lack flexibility in the choice of games/sports, which is generally not the case for gaming. Indeed, gaming is a powerful means of integration due to its varied offer, its universal character as well as its rise in users seen in the last few years, especially during the health crisis.

Press release by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Integration and the Greater Region