Foyer Microfinance Award winners;
Credit: Foyer Group
The Foyer Group yesterday awarded the first Foyer Microfinance Award, organised in collaboration with microlux, to La Taverne Victor Hugo.
During a ceremony which took place on Monday 20 January 2020 at the Group's premises in Leudelange, Foyer awarded the first Foyer Microfinance Award in the presence of Group Management and microlux, the first microcredit institution in Luxembourg. The award went to Tania Guillot Da Cruz for her inn-restaurant "La Taverne Victor Hugo", located in Altwies (near Mondorf-les-Bains).
Back in November 2019, during its second CSR Fair (CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility), Foyer launched, in collaboration with microlux, the Foyer Microfinance Award, a prize which rewards a microfinance project in Luxembourg. Fully in line with the Group's values and its societal commitment, this initiative aims to raise awareness of microfinance in Luxembourg and promote local entrepreneurship, but also to unite Foyer staff around an exciting project.
For this first edition, five micro-entrepreneurs supported by microlux were pre-selected and invited to present their activity in a short pitch to Foyer staff during the CSR Fair. These were: Dominique Delly for his parcel transport company "Transport Express"; Tania Guillot Da Cruz for her accommodation and catering establishment "La Taverne Victor Hugo"; Maida Halilovic, for her co-working space for artists and designers "Am Gronn"; Duarte Nuno Monteiro Da Silva, for his chauffeur transport company "E_LuxVtc"".
Tania Guillot Da Cruz's presentation of her establishment won the majority of votes among the employees of the Foyer Group, who were invited to vote for their favourite project. Thanks to this award, Ms Guillot Da Cruz will be reimbursed the interest on her microloan and offered two years of insurance with Foyer.
Peter Vermeulen, Head of CSR at Foyer, commented: "What struck me during the presentations of the five finalists was that their company was not a story of a business plan or a search for maximum profit. It is a story of heart and courage. And that’s what will make their business successful. The Victor Hugo brasserie is a story of friendship between two women who had the courage to realise their dream".
Building on this first success, the Foyer Group is already meeting with Luxembourg micro-entrepreneurs for the 2020 edition of the Foyer Microfinance Award.
