Credit: Stëmm vun der Strooss
On Thursday 9 October 2025, Stëmm vun der Strooss, a Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation which supports people experiencing homelessness and vulnerable members of society, reported that 80 volunteers from VML Luxembourg recently assisted at the Centre de Post-Thérapie (CPT) in Schoenfels, where they worked alongside residents and staff in the kitchen, garden and nature protection workshops.
The activity formed part of the global marketing and communications agency VML’s Global Foundation Day, an annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative during which employees worldwide dedicate their time and skills to community projects and social causes.
The CPT in Schoenfels supports adults recovering from addiction through social and professional reintegration in a protected, substance-free environment with a multidisciplinary team present on site 24 hours a day.
In 2024, a total of 44 people took part in the socio-professional integration measures offered at the CPT in Schoenfels, of whom 22 were housed at the post-therapy centre.
Throughout the day, VML volunteers collaborated with residents and staff on a variety of activities essential to the centre’s operation, including harvesting apples and pressing fresh juice, preparing vegetables for soups, chopping fruit for jams and making smoothies using surplus produce. Outdoor teams also helped maintain the green spaces around the site.
Gemma Spence, CEO of VML Luxembourg, shared her observations on the CPT: “What you do here is phenomenal. You work with people from difficult backgrounds, give them purpose, value and skills, and make them feel that they matter.”
In addition to their hands-on support, VML employees made a donation of €1,000. The funds are aimed at enhancing the capacity of the “Schweesdrëps” reintegration workshop in Sanem through the purchase of uniform management software, a professional washing machine and a water softener. The total project budget amounts to €70,000. To date, €59,000 has been raised, leaving €11,000 still required to reach the target and complete all planned upgrades.
The “Schweesdrëps” therapeutic workshop offers sports clubs the opportunity to have their uniforms cleaned. 40 sports clubs, comprising more than 300 teams, use this service, with an average of 5,000 uniforms collected each week. In 2024, 97 tonnes of sports clothing were processed, representing an increase of 4.3% compared with the previous year.
Looking ahead, one of Stëmm vun der Strooss’ next projects is to open a second “Schweesdrëps” workshop in northern Luxembourg, in response to the continued rise in demand from sports clubs and from individuals seeking employment in the secondary labour market. According to the non-profit, this market still lacks sufficient capacity to meet the growing number of candidates seeking suitable and meaningful employment, highlighting the need to increase placements, maintain funding and strengthen coordination between the public and private sectors.
According to Alexandra Oxacelay, Director of Stëmm vun der Strooss: “This kind of support, like we received today from VML Luxembourg, is what Stëmm vun der Strooss needs to continue developing our projects and advancing our mission.”
EO
