Fédération d'Associations d'Espagnols du Luxembourg

beskrivelse av organisasjon

The Federation of Spanish Associations of Luxembourg ASBL (FAEL) gathers nine Spanish associations present in the
Grand Duchy. These are: Círculo Cultural Español Antonio Machado, Asociación Manos Abiertas (AMA), Foro
Ciudadano, Peña Colchoneros de Luxemburgo, Peña Madridista de Luxemburgo, Asociación de padres y alumnos de
Differdange, Rincón Andaluz, Europaddle and Asociación de proyectos solidarios españoles ( APSE). A description of
these associations can be found on the link:
https://www.fael.lu/es/asociaciones-miembro/
FAEL has the aim to represent and to help developing platforms in relation with these associations and Spanish people in
Luxembourg. Through these associations, FAEL assists, defends and promotes social, politic, economic, cultural,
educative, sportive, and leisure affairs of the Spanish community, promotes their solidarity and facilitates their integration.
To these ends it organises many activities. Since November 2014, the Federation manages its own cultural center: the
Centro Español Lucien Wercollier, a point of encounter where in addition, a large majority of the activities take place.
Spanish migration to Luxemburg has substantially increased in number in the recent years. This demographic growth has
accelerated in the current decade to more than double its size since 2011 and currently amounts to about 1,5% of
Luxembourg's population. The role of this large proportion of emigrants in contributing to a multicultural integrated
community has to be enhanced. Our mission aims, by means of different instruments, to fulfil this important participation
in a more equalitarian, diverse and inclusive society. Our associations activities, are very diverse: musical, cultural or
festive events, conferences, welcome of emigrants in situations of different level of precariat. Drafting of newsletters,
communicating by means of social networks, maintaining and updating internet pages are all targeted to achieve this
threefold objective of enhancing the well-being of the Spanish community in Luxembourg, promoting the integration of
Spanish origin inmigrants, and building bridges with other communities.
In particular, one of our objectives is to focus on the situation and needs of the Spanish origin population currently in
Luxemburg and to contribute to their integration in the country, while preserving their cultural roots as a reference of
emotional stability and identity. For this purpose we try to build on an intergenerational memory of previous generations of
Spanish emigrants.
FAEL relies on the support of volunteers to perform its activities. These volunteers belong to two distinct groups:
One of these groups includes several professionals, either active or retired, who contribute, on a purely voluntary and
gratious basis, with their ample and diverse experience to design, propose and manage the activities. These are our
professional volunteers.
The other group includes young volunteers mainly from the European Solidarity Corps programme, but also from other
financing sources as, for instance, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. One of these volunteers' main tasks will be the
active supporting role in scheduling, organizing and facilitating the activities. Furthermore, If so they wish, they could
participate in specific actions carried out by the member associations.
But we also aim at providing a satisfactory and rich experience that will be useful to the volunteers in their future career.
To this end, the volunteers have the opportunity to actively participate in discussions related to topics such as culture,
migrations, youth and citizenship. Furthermore, we encourage them to participate in different events, even including
family parties, so that they receive a global vision of the intergenerational and intercultural reality of the Luxemburgish
society.
To conclude, since its creation, FAEL has the objective of developing a cultural and social conscience, both local and
European, based on associative commitment and integration. All volunteers who have joined our successive projects
have benefited from this experience to develop these aspects as individuals participating in the construction of our
society. Therefore, by means of our projects we expect to contribute to the awareness of the volunteer of all forms of
tolerance and solidarity, as well as the rejection of racism and discrimination.