Caritas Luxembourg

The Project

The idea for this project was born a few years ago. Georges Christen, who was always close to Caritas, suggested organizing sports activities with homeless people as a volunteer.

Through this project, people living on the streets or in precarious situations are encouraged to participate in sports activities that highlight their skills and help restructure their daily lives. In this way, we aim to restore their self-esteem. These activities serve a therapeutic occupational function with a view to psychosocial reintegration.

Implementation

Currently, fitness, weight training, Zumba, Capoeira, and stretching classes are held weekly at the Centre Ulysse in Bonnevoie. While the activities take place regularly, we face some volatility in the participation of homeless people.

Since the Centre Ulysse must move due to renovations, we had to look for a new space to organize the courses. Having a space to continue physical activities is important for the mental health and social activity of our beneficiaries. It is not just about the exercises, but we are also pleased to offer them a way to interact with other participants and thus create social bonds.

Objective

In the long term, we aim to promote physical well-being with a view to the psychosocial reintegration of our target audience. The benefits of regular physical activity are numerous. First, this activity provides regular occupation and represents a first step towards a more structured daily routine. Moreover, it is confirmed that sport reduces stress, thus enhancing self-esteem and improving mental health. Furthermore, through sport, team spirit is promoted, and social contacts can be established.

Thanks to this regular offer of physical activities, participants will develop better awareness of their health status. This awareness can also reduce the consumption of all kinds of drugs and generally lead to healthier daily conduct.