Gesellschaft fir Musiktherapie zu Lëtzebuerg

Music therapy, a non-verbal medium, creates connections beyond linguistic and cultural barriers. It acts as a catalyst, activating personal resources and promoting the development of a form of resilience. It is in this spirit that the project was launched in 2016, as part of the "MATENEEN" call for projects.

The year 2015 was marked by massive migratory movements, prompting Cathy Schmartz, president at the time of the GML (Gesellschaft fir Musiktherapie zu Lëtzebuerg), and the committee to recognize the potential benefits that music therapy could offer to people in immigration situations.

Since December 2016, the project has been running continuously and is now in its seventh phase. However, the path has not been without obstacles. To adapt to the changing needs of beneficiaries and their mobility, the project had to be adjusted several times, in close collaboration with the ethnopsychological unit (CEP) of the Luxembourg Red Cross.

Initially focused on group sessions for unaccompanied minors (UMAs), the project has expanded to include individual sessions, sessions for young adults, as well as family sessions in various Red Cross shelters. In 2024, the project expanded to three households.

For current President Isabelle Toussaint-Dartevelle, the greatest satisfaction lies in "chance encounters with former beneficiaries, now engaged in apprenticeships or professional careers. Their positive feedback is a source of motivation to continue. This project is a source of inspiration for other similar initiatives in Europe and also generates requests for internships and information in the meantime."

As an ongoing project, the results are constantly evolving. Enthusiasm, confidence, and perseverance are key values that have allowed us to overcome many difficulties and find suitable solutions. Music, used as a tool for communication and therapy, has exceeded initial expectations in terms of effectiveness.
In the long term, the goal is for other beneficiaries to benefit from music therapy, and for Luxembourgish institutions to be able to collaborate with specialized therapists.

The motivation lies in the transformations observed at the end of the sessions: the expression of emotions, the smiles, the gestures of solidarity. Isabelle Toussaint-Dartevelle summarizes the essence of the project: "Music is a universal language that knows no borders."