L-R: Connie Reichling (FFL Director); Geoff Thompson, Discover Luxembourg organiser; Lara Lara Beauguerlange (FFL);

On Friday 14 October 2022, the proceeds from the Discover Luxembourg 2022 event that took place on Saturday 10 September 2022 were presented to the Fondation Follereau Luxembourg at their offices in Strassen.

A total of 30 teams participated in the 14th edition of the popular event where teams followed an 8 km route through Luxembourg City, predominantly along the Pétrusse valley, the Grund, Pulvermuhl and Clausen. Along the way, they discovered new things about the history, culture, gastronomy and technology that the city has to offer; to win points, the teams had to answer observation questions, take a series of selfies and also participate in challenges at a number of Event Stations.

This year's winning team was Soup or Bowl 22.

Each year, the event supports a charity, either one acting locally in Luxembourg, or with an official seat in the Grand Duchy; this year, the event supported the Fondation Follereau Luxembourg (FFL) which is active in various countries in health, education and protection. The Discover Luxembourg 2022 charitable donation of €600 is going to an education project entitled "Les Jeunes Jardiniers de Dédougou" (The Young Gardeners of Dédougou) in Burkina Faso.

Les Jeunes Jardiniers de Dédougou

Together with its local partner "AAB-FFL" in Burkina Faso, the Fondation Follereau Luxembourg has been supporting the vocational training and care centre called "The young gardeners of Dédougou" since 2011. The project aims at providing young vulnerable people, aged between twelve and nineteen, the necessary means to take up again their studies and complete a three-year vocational training course, on top of literacy courses. The holistic care covers nutritional, hygienic, clothing, medical and psychological care and is personalised based on each child's needs. The vocational study programmes have been defined according to the local job market demand and therefore three courses have been set up: mechanics, wood-working and sewing. During their training, the students learn to take on responsibilities by maintaining the centre's garden and managing crops, which will partly contribute to the financial autonomy of the centre. In 2022, 30 students coming from Dédougou and its surroundings live at the centre and are enrolled in a training programme there.

To give an idea of what a donation can cover:

  • €40 provides training material for one year to a student;
  • €70 covers all students' nutritional needs for a week;
  • €90 provides all medications necessary for the students over a month.