12 August 2025
The eleven youth centres run by the Luxembourg Red Cross not only offer a wide range of leisure activities, but also focus on the personal development of young people.
Carole Theisen, manager, explains the concept of open work and the activities that are currently proving very popular with young people.
Youth centres offer much more than just leisure activities: they also promote personal development. How do you help young people discover their strengths?
Carole Theisen: The most important aspect of working with young people is the relationship that educators can establish with them. This relationship creates a foundation of trust and a suitable environment: the teaching team gets to know the young person and can therefore offer them something tailored to their needs. Our educators help young people to develop in the best possible way, mainly through interviews and targeted activities. Interaction with other young people also helps them to discover themselves and build their personalities.
The work in our youth centres is based on the concept of open work. What does this mean in practical terms?
CT : Open youth work means that young people (aged 12 to 26) come to the youth centre of their own accord. The young person decides for themselves what they want to do, what they want to participate in and how long they want to stay – everything is done on their own initiative. There is no pressure or expectation. The team works with young people to create an offering that interests them and helps them develop.
Is there a favourite theme in the houses?
CT : The dynamics within the structures are very different and depend in part on the age of the young people. In general, meeting up is an important part of a youth centre: simply being able to come along, be welcomed and talk freely is important for teenagers and young adults. Many young people are also interested in interesting leisure activities – cooking is very popular in every centre. The young people choose a menu, prepare it and enjoy it together. Sports activities and excursions are also very popular. Recently, more and more girls have been attending our youth centres, particularly for activities specifically and exclusively aimed at them. For example, at the Strassen youth centre, the ‘Pretty Girl’ activity was organised with several beauty workshops and a dinner reserved for girls. In summary, the aim of a youth centre is to welcome young people and enjoy good times together.
Since 1999, the Luxembourg Red Cross has been offering young people aged 12 to 26 a safe place to meet and learn in its youth centres, where they can freely develop according to their aspirations. The Red Cross currently runs eleven such centres across the country.
