© Dany Rasqué
Fulfilling the wish of a deceased benefactor, the Luxembourg Red Cross has inaugurated a new home in Oberglabach for vulnerable young people.
The Luxembourg Red Cross has opened a new support facility for children and young people in Oberglabach, within the municipality of Nommern.
The new residence can accommodate up to eight children aged 4 to 18. It also includes a supervised living programme, offering five places across seven flats for young adults up to the age of 27, where they can live independently with support available as needed.
The project was initiated by a bequest from the deceased property owner, who willed it to the Red Cross on the condition that it be used to create a project for vulnerable youth. The initiative was realised through a collaboration between the Red Cross, the Ministry of Education, and the Municipality of Nommern.
Red Cross Director Michel Simonis emphasised the centre's focus on high-quality counselling, noting that children who cannot grow up in their family carry "a very heavy burden." He stated, "As the provider, we must therefore support these children in such a way that they have every possible chance to grow up well."
© RTL
A key feature of the new centre is its focus on keeping siblings together, a practice not always standard in youth care. Gilles Dhamen, first government advisor in the Ministry of Education, explained that the ministry worked with the Red Cross to develop a modern concept that prevents children from being separated due to age or changing schools.
"That is why it is a crucial element that siblings can grow up together here in a familiar environment and with familiar people," Dhamen said.
Nommern Mayor Sophie Diderrich expressed her satisfaction with the municipality's role in supporting the project. "I hope that the children and young people feel at home here and will integrate into the village, in clubs and at school, and can live here just as we do," she stated.
The facility is located in Oberglabach, a small village with a population of 32 as of 31 December 2024. Some have questioned if such a rural location is suitable for the centre's residents.
In response, Red Cross Director Simonis, who grew up in a neighbouring village, has consistently defended the choice. He expresses confidence that the rural setting and tranquillity will be profoundly beneficial for the children and young people.
