Credit: VDL Photothèque / Charles Soubry

On Friday 21 October 2022, the College of Mayors and Aldermen of the City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg - VdL), the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and the Luxembourg Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO participated in the official unveiling of the UNESCO plaque at the Bonnevoie-Gellé primary school in the presence of Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess in her capacity as Goodwill Ambassador to UNESCO.

Since 2019, the Bonnevoie-Gellé primary school has been involved as a volunteer in the Network of Associated Schools of UNESCO (ASPnet), and since June 2020, it has been a full member of the network of UNESCO project schools.

Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer, said: “The Bonnevoie-Gellé school is the first primary school in the capital to be an official member of ASPnet and to be able to adorn itself with the UNESCO plaque. It is a great honour for the City of Luxembourg to accept this plaque today in the presence of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, H.R.H. the Grand Duchess, and some 120 students who receive daily education precious in this historic building. For the district of Bonnevoie, one of the districts of Luxembourg City with the greatest cultural diversity, this is a nice gesture that underlines the importance of this quality, sustainable and diversified education, precisely for the young generation".

Minister of Culture, Sam Tanson, said: “The future of education and culture are closely linked – the mission being to prepare students for life. We have an obligation to provide them with the tools, both for their personal development, in order to find themselves in their immediate surroundings and to face an increasingly complex world. The UNESCO Associated Schools provide the methods, the framework and show the way to achieve this goal".

The values ​​of cultural diversity, the culture of peace and non-violence and learning to live together in a neighbourhood and a multicultural community are among the main teaching messages of the Gellé school. In addition, the school aims for the intellectual development of students, as well as the promotion of physical and environmental education through numerous educational activities offered at all levels of primary education.