"Weidendall" gardening activity

Inclusion through work and occupation of people in precarious or excluded situations is an important part of Caritas Luxembourg's work. Many people are employed by Caritas Luxembourg as part of an activation measure in collaboration with ONIS. One of these is the "Weidendall" activity, run at the Centre de l'Oseraie in Kopstal.

Under the supervision of professional gardeners, people grow vegetables, maintain green areas and cut firewood. The vegetables produced are mainly used to supply the kitchens of shelters for the underprivileged. A number of partnerships have also been set up, for example with the SIS "Domaine 64 asbl" for grape harvesting and vineyard maintenance, with local authority partners for pond cleaning and wood chopping, with the Bridel Maison Relais for educational activities such as the preparation of traditional apple juice and monitoring of sowing and planting, with the Bridel school and BNP Paribas Cardif on the prevention of overweight and obesity, and so on.

The people employed as part of the project are mainly learning about gardening.The supervisors train them in various techniques.This training then opens up new prospects for them on the job market. At the same time, this experience makes them feel valued: they see a concrete result to their work.It's very motivating!