In Luxembourg City, a project based at a popular meeting centre is helping women to gain confidence and to better integrate into society.

The ESF-funded project, called CIAO – which stands for Contexte d’Inclusion et d’Accueil Organisé, or "organised inclusion and welcome plan" – includes a series of workshops targeted at women with migrant backgrounds, including refugees and asylum seekers. It’s based at Kopplabunz, a meeting centre run by the charity Women In Distress.

 

All participants in the CIAO project are interviewed to find out their individual requirements before being enrolled on a range of workshops tailored to their needs, covering topics such as language skills, active citizenship and employability.

 

For many of the women who participate, this is the first time they have been supported, recognised or appreciated as part of wider society. The workshops don’t just help them to develop new skills; they also provide a place to meet like-minded people and build their self-confidence.