Caritas Luxembourg Supported 125k People in 2019, Paid €115k to those in Financial Difficulty due to COVID-19

Caritas Luxembourg presented yesterday its 2019 annual report; whilst there were many challenges to meet in 2019, the NGO expects to have to intervene even more in the coming months and years due to the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 crisis.

Luxembourg

At the national level, the social inclusion of refugees and migrants, homeless people as well as children and young people remains the primary objective of Caritas Luxembourg. 2019 thus saw the launch of the Maison “Le Temps des Femmes” which allows refugee and migrant women to break out of their isolation, as well as the creation of the LogIS unit (social inclusion housing) which combines the social monitoring of families, housing management and integration through work.

Regarding homeless people, a new law meant that new activities of inclusion through work and occupation have seen the light of day, including the "Jardinage" (gardening) project in Kopstal. In addition, finding rehousing alternatives for all the residents of Centre Ulysse following damage related to piping problems proved challenging.

Regarding childcare facilities, 2019 saw Caritas Luxembourg take over three additional "maisons-relais" and the services offered by Young Caritas have been revised so that youth solidarity volunteering is at the heart of its action. Last year, Caritas Luxembourg came to the aid of more than 25,000 people in Luxembourg, 56% of whom are children and young people.

Abroad

At the international level, Caritas Luxembourg had to once again focus most of its resources on emergency aid. The NGO supported displaced Syrians north of Idlib, Venezuelan refugees and displaced people from Myanmar, as well as providing emergency aid to victims of cyclone Idai which struck Mozambique. Caritas Luxembourg has thus helped more than 100,000 people internationally, through 80 projects in fourteen countries for around €17.3 million.

To carry out all of these activities, both nationally and internationally, Caritas Luxembourg counts on the commitment of its 782 employees and 976 volunteers, as well as the support of its many donors, sympathisers and funders. 

Caritas Luxembourg has stressed that this support will be even more important in the coming months since the first assessment of its helpline for those affected financially by the COVID-19 crisis has shown that many people will find it difficult to make ends meet in the next months. In the past two months, 380 people have contacted the helpline for financial assistance, most of them people under 40 (57%). 69% of people had never needed social assistance before. Whilst almost all sectors of activity were concerned, those of catering, the self-employed and the cleaning sector were particularly affected. In all, 642 people (including 226 children) have received some form of support from the helpline. At the end of May 2020, the NGO provided €115,509 in direct aid to families and individuals.