Meeting highlights:
The second meeting of the Erasmus+: Yes We Can project was held in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from 1 to 3 March 2019, under the direction of one of the project partners: Maison d’Afrique Luxembourg.
The eight partners from the six countries of the European Union arrived on 28 February 2019 at the Hotel Campanile Luxembourg where they were all accommodated.
On 1st March members of Maison d’Afrique transported 14 participants from the 8 organisations to the Maison d’Afrique for the start of the Opening ceremony of the 2nd Partners‘s meeting.
The activities at Maison d’Afrique began with a tour of the premises and introduction of the team that works on different projects. This was followed by a power point presentation by the Coach at Maison d’Afrique Mrs Sephora Jérémie on the “Rozinga Training” which is the intellectual rehabilitation programme that is offered by Maison d’Afrique to its users.
Lastly, there was a presentation of the various projects undertaken by the Luxembourg partner for the benefit of its users.
At the end of the morning session, the Partners project management team withdrew for a meeting to discuss reports and developments to ensure a quality project delivery of the YES WE Can project. Minutes of this and similar meetings are published separately
Participants continued networking and experience sharing at lunch provided by the host organisation at a small exotic restaurant that was most welcoming
After lunch, with a temperature of 9 degrees, participants visited the small town of Luxembourg.
Later in the evening participants met at the Festival of migration and cultures and attended a conference on the European elections with the various political parties in Luxembourg followed by a cocktail reception where there was an opportunity to discuss our “Yes We Can” project with the Head of Mission of the European Commission in Luxembourg and some Luxembourg representatives.
On Saturday, March 2, 2019, at 10 am the second meeting of the Partners project management team was held.
At 11 a.m, we met at the project stand at the Festival of Migration and cultures to present our project to the Luxembourg public: There were many visitors at the stand a number of positive feedback to see so many people from different countries pursuing the same goal: to encourage participation in social promotion through the sharing of knowledge, experience and know-how.
The official opening of the festival and book fair took place at 3.30 p.m by the Luxembourg Minister for Family and Integration, Mrs Corine Cahen, followed by a glass of friendship.
From 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., there was a major conference to discuss the future of the body responsible for advising the government on the inclusion and integration of foreigners: the National Council of Foreigners, an organisation in which the President of the Maison d’Afrique is very active.
Sunday was a day of meetings for Luxembourg’s deputies and ministers at their different political stands. Participants made a tour of stands and introduced Yes We Can Project and learnt about the stands of other organisations at the festival. to discuss the idea of our project and get feedback from them for the future.
After the meeting with the Polish writer Andrzej Franaszek at 7 p.m, participants had the free time to taste the different dishes in the different stands of the festival and that is also the spirit of this festival of cultures: visiting the whole world for a weekend in a festive atmosphere, and “bringing the society together”.
During this festival, participants had the opportunity to know what Maison d’Afrique is doing to bring back to the society, vulnerable people who are living under the risk of social exclusion. The purpose was to present our project “yes we can” in an info-stand in the Festival of migration, culture and citizenship; which takes place once a year in Luxembourg for the last 36 year. This three day festival promotes a veritable cultural intermingling, to “bring the society together”. More than 30.000 people, members of the Luxembourg government and the civil society visit this festival.
This Partnership with the Luxembourg civil society and the government brings benefit to our project. Our participation raises the profile of the YES WE CAN project and helps to make the project known to more than 400 associations present at this event.
All project participants received Attendance Certificates provided by the host organisation Maison d’Afrique
Maison wishes to thank all participants for their contribution to making the Luxembourg meeting a success.
