11 June 2024
On 6 June 2024, the Luxembourg Red Cross celebrated an historic moment with the laying of the foundation stone for its future home in Howald. Scheduled to open in 2027, the building will be a multifunctional space welcoming families in crisis, people with social problems, blood donors, volunteers and individuals wishing to learn about Red Cross missions. This ambitious project will bring together 450 staff, currently spread over more than 10 different sites, under one roof, facilitating the coordination and efficiency of services.
H.R.H. the Grand Duchess, President of the Luxembourg Red Cross, opened the ceremony, surrounded by dignitaries such as Mrs Martine Deprez, Minister for Health and Social Security, Mr Gilles Roth, Minister for the Budget, and Mr Max Hahn, Minister for the Family, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception. The Grand Duchess expressed her pride and joy at this landmark event, underlining the historic importance of this new stage for the organisation. She recalled the crucial role of the Red Cross in supporting the most vulnerable, saying that this new building will strengthen their ability to pursue their humanitarian mission with modern and effective means.
Michel Wurth, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Luxembourg Red Cross, emphasised the need for this new centre to improve support for vulnerable people. The rapid development of the Red Cross over the last few decades has made it essential to centralise services to ensure more effective action.
At present, the fact that our teams are scattered over several sites is a logistical challenge and an obstacle to access for beneficiaries. The new centre, by bringing staff together, will make it possible to offer a more accessible and coherent service, while optimising the organisation’s resources.
The new 14,000 square metre Red Cross centre will be a nerve centre for a wide range of activities. Blood donors will find a place for their precious donations, while friendly and discreet spaces will host social, psycho-social and therapeutic consultations. The training centre will be open to everyone, from future holiday camp instructors to professionals looking to improve their skills. Michel Simonis, director general of the Red Cross, emphasised that this house will be a symbol of solidarity in action, accessible and sustainable, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades.