In Luxembourg, 2023 was marked by an effort to intensify our relationships with secondary schools with the aim of moving from one-off interventions in multiple schools, to a more systematic approach in targeted schools where a programme of interventions can be planned throughout the year and where teachers and supervisors can gradually be trained and empowered to run our workshops. One example of a successful collaboration of this kind that we had in 2023 was with Fieldgen Private School. 

In January 2023, we worked for four consecutive weeks as part of the sustainable development option for a 7th grade class. 

The program began with a screening of extracts from the award-winning film “Bigger Than Us”, which tackles crucial issues such as inequality, the environment, migration and many others. These extracts were used as a starting point for reflections and discussions, during which the students became aware of the challenges facing our society and discovered how young people of their own age around the world are mobilizing to find solutions to them.

Group reflection on the film ’Bigger Than Us’.

The discussions were mixed with artistic activities, such as drama, drawing, diagramming, mime and other creative means chosen to reinforce their appropriation of the themes and to develop their ability to formulate and convey them in their own words.

Creation of artistic projects by the students.

Finally, the young people were given the opportunity to identify the challenges in their immediate environment and to come up with concrete initiatives that could remedy them.

Developing the stages of social action projects.

The simulated projects proposed by the students were varied and reflected their concerns: raising awareness in their community about waste reduction, helping the homeless, improving school bus timetables to make them more suitable for students living in more remote villages, and improving the well-being of students within the school by reducing homework.

The responsiveness and flexibility of the Fieldgen secondary school also enabled us to take part in their 4-hour solidarity day in March, and to come along with another class from the Aline Mayrisch secondary school. Together, the pupils followed the workshop “Who am I and what is my role in society?” and created various artistic presentations on the concepts discussed. A great opportunity to mix students from different schools who have attended our workshops!

A class from the Lycée Fieldgen and the LAML, who had attended UF workshops, met in March to do another workshop together, exchanging ideas and creating artistic productions on the themes of altruism, privilege and equality.

Another moment when we were able to collaborate with the school in 2023 was as part of our Unity Run 42 during the ING Night Marathon. Around 50 pupils from the school took part in this relay race, supporting our education projects abroad. 

Presentation of our international education projects to the runners from Fieldgen public school before they took part in the Unity Run 42.

Finally, we closed the 2022-2023 school year by taking part in the school’s sustainability festival on 7 July. At this event, we were able to present our workshops to over 100 students, 23 of whom signed up for our workshop for the 2023-2024 school year. We started our series of workshops with them in November!

Thank you to the school management, teachers and students for this fruitful collaboration throughout 2023! 

Sustainable Development Day on 7 July.