In recent years, we have been learning how to contribute to the discourse on development, drawing on the experiences being generated globally from the projects with which we work. As we strive to promote a constructive dialogue around the principles underlying development projects in different spaces – with donors, in schools, in communities, in the media, and in other spaces open to the general public – we have engaged in a series of activities which are part of our awareness-raising and development education strategy.

As a part of our awareness-raising activities in Luxembourg, we launched the “Mercy’s Blessing” campaign in 2016, with the aim of creating spaces in which young people could come together and reflect on their potential, opportunities and role to bring about positive change in their own environment. Since then, our campaign, supported by the Luxembourgish Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, has expanded to include new activities and new audiences.

Through various educational materials such as the award-winning short film “Mercy’s Blessing” by director May Taherzadeh, we offer workshops to schools, universities, socio-educational organisations and communities that seek to support youth and young adults to become protagonists of positive change. By exploring themes that are central to any development initiative, such as justice, mutual support, gender equality and overcoming prejudice, the workshops aim at helping participants to analyse their own environment and reflect on the application of these principles in their lives. In addition to discussing profound themes, participants are encouraged to express their ideas in artistic form and to implement simple service projects.

In order to extend the scope of these workshops, Unity Foundation offers training to teachers, organisations working in the socio-educational sector and anyone else interested in becoming a facilitator of these workshops. In addition to the training, Unity Foundation offers support to those involved and organizes regular reflection meetings to capitalize and share learning.

“In a rural village in the heart of Africa a teenage boy has a dream: to get his younger sister and himself out of poverty. But when a twist of fate shatters his hopes, everything seems lost and he is faced with the ultimate choice.”

Mercy’s Blessing has won 12 awards in various international film festivals around the world. The movie is also currently used in many countries in awareness campaigns, for example by UNICEF Malawi. The campaigns are shaped around the movie and use it as basis for exploring different concepts that are fundamental to building a prosperous society.

Unity Foundation participates in the different consortiums and reflection spaces of Luxembourgish NGOs involved in development education and also invites members of LuxembourgishNGOs and associations to meet on a regular basis to reflect on the actions carried out and to share the experiences and knowledge generated. The objective is to advance the framework of action and the common vision in which all NGOs evolve.

In order to share its learning with the “general public”, to raise awareness of our campaign themes, and to inspire action, Unity Foundation organizes various events, alone or in consortium with other NGOs, such as screenings and conferences. These events aim to share the knowledge and experience of our partner organizations as well as professionals and researchers from various backgrounds.

Awareness-raising is also done through the capitalization and dissemination of experiences and learnings from awareness-raising activities on Unity Foundation’s social networks (website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), through the writing of articles, and the sharing of newsletters. Subscribe to follow all our news!