On September 20 we held a conference highlighting various circumstances of non-voluntary migration. What pushes people to leave their home, their work, their family, often under life-threatening conditions?

A panel of local experts, volunteers and refugees shared their experiences and viewpoints. The panel was composed of Salam Noah, an Iraqi refugee turned painter and student at Nancy University; Lejda Balla, who also had to flee her home country Albania; Elodie Agrafojo, a dedicated volunteer at two local organisations near Metz (FR); Marianne Donven, who has set up an organisation called Open Home which helps people in need to find temporary homes and also helps them overcome bureaucratic and legal hurdles; Nadine Conrardy, Migrant and Refugee Service Manager at the Luxembourg Red Cross and finally Luc Scheer, member of the board of the Luxembourg Red Cross .

The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the ongoing challenges which have been gripping Europe in the past years. The panel discussed the psychological, financial and cultural strains people face as well as the conditions and challenges they find along the way and once they reach their destination.

The conference was preceded by a lunch prepared by the pop-up restaurant Chiche which is run by Syrian immigrants and serves as an example of successful integration into Luxembourg society.