As we bid farewell to 2023, Unity Foundation takes a moment to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and memorable experiences. This year has been marked by meaningful collaborations, formal recognition, and a remarkable event that brought together the community for a common cause.

May 20, 2023, marked an unforgettable evening as Unity Foundation participated in the ING Marathon with a special event – the “Unity Run 42.” This initiative, conceived especially for high school students, saw an impressive turnout from 126 youth from local schools and promises continued success and growth, as we eagerly anticipate the 2024 edition, hoping to engage even more schools in the Unity Run 42 movement.

A notable highlight of 2023 was the successful conclusion of our framework agreement evaluation, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) and the consulting firm Baastel. Over nearly half a year, we engaged in intensive work with the evaluation and NGO desks of the MFEA, aiming to assess the impact and effectiveness of our programs.

This collaborative effort, conducted under the leadership of Baastel, involved extensive documentation reviews, virtual meetings, interviews, and field visits. With approximately 400 interviews and meetings involving the UF team in Luxembourg, local partners, coordinators, teachers, community school committees, parents, PSA students, tutors, and local leaders, Baastel produced a comprehensive and well-structured report. The evaluation not only validated our learning questions but also provided valuable insights, highlighting the positive impact of the moral component embedded in our programs.

In June 2023, Unity Foundation President Fernand Schaber and Board member Paul Arbab undertook a significant journey to Colombia, visiting our long-standing partner organization FUNDAEC. This visit aimed to fortify the relationship between the two entities and gain insights into the impact of the Preparing for Social Action (PSA) program in the Caribbean region.

Witnessing firsthand the positive outcomes of the PSA program, such as increased educational levels and behavioral shifts among participating youth, reinforced our conviction in the program’s potential not only in Colombia but also in other regions where it is implemented. The visit also highlighted the success of the seed fund, supporting local initiatives that enhance community prosperity.

In 2023, we achieved a significant milestone by obtaining certification for our workshops from the National Education Training Institute (IFEN) in Luxembourg. After six years of organizing various workshops in schools and training teachers, this formal recognition represents a crucial step in solidifying our activities in Luxembourg. This certification underscores our commitment to promoting students’ well-being in schools and opens new avenues for collaboration with schools.

In a standout moment of 2023, we had a memorable night at Ciné Utopia on December 7th. The evening, dedicated to women’s empowerment and gender equality, commenced with the screening of the Oscar-nominated film “The Red Suitcase”, followed by insights from the director, Cyrus Neshvad, unraveling the film’s profound symbolism. Moving testimonials from our “Actors of Change” network members and collaborating teachers highlighted the positive impact of Unity Foundation’s activities in schools. The night also featured a video on the contribution of our international partners to the advancement of women and the launch of the “Drink, Educate, Unite” campaign in collaboration with LuxAirport and Thalus.

Our gratitude goes to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, our local partners, our collaborators in Luxembourg, our donors, and to our many supporters without whom none of this would have been possible! We wish everyone a great end to 2023 and look forward to continuing to learn and collaborate together in 2024! See you soon!