That is why from now on the organisation is now publishing its informational materials in English. Here, project manager Romain Schroeder explains.

Jess Bauldry: Does this initiative arise as a result of requests from the English-speaking community in Luxembourg for this kind of information or is it a response to the misuse of information online in general?

Romain Schroeder: Both. When we meet people of the English-speaking community, they often express the need for facts and background information on current social and political issues in Luxembourg. We feel there is a genuine interest in getting a better understanding of political and social life in Luxembourg and a growing demand for clear and accurate information.

On the other hand, ZpB is also actively reaching out to the English-speaking community. The aim of ZpB is to promote active citizenship by all people living in Luxembourg. Considering the rising English-speaking community here, it is essential to publish our offer in English and also raise awareness with those people, who were so far less interested in what’s going on in this place.

Of course, there is a certain urgency in providing accurate facts considering the rise of misinformation especially in social media. We however feel a same sense of urgency when it comes to avoiding that different communities in Luxembourg live alongside each other rather than with each other. Providing information and foremost, showing ways and means to be an active citizen in the neighborhood, city or country you live in, are important to us.

JB: How did you go about translating the texts and media into English and will this be an automatic step for all materials that you produce in future?

RS: Being still a quite young organisation, we focused during our first years on pupils and students and published in French and German. But it was clear to us from the start that it is essential to also reach out to the international community, to provide an offer for international schools or Luxembourgish schools with an English curriculum. This is what we started last year and we will certainly continue to do so.

The first event we did in English was the exhibition “State of Deception”, at Abbaye Neumunster. Now, all our videos and web tools are available in English, more and more publications as well as events will be. Videos or other publications will be translated into English when they treat Luxembourg related issues on which no other information is available in English.

School children are pictured outside of the central trains station during a 'democracy train' visit to parliament. Photo: ZpB

JB: You write that citizenship education contributes to building the foundation for informed citizens who can think critically. What other steps do you think need to be taken in Luxembourg to help the international community there be better informed and able to think critically?

RS: This question I hard to answer in only a few sentences. The ability to think critically depends very largely on education, no matter your nationality. Language skills are important, especially in a multilingual country like Luxembourg. The ability to analyse statements, to see the intentions behind them, to decode slogans, to recognise stereotypes or generalisations is important…. and a matter of citizenship education.

Then it also depends on the information at hand, the facts, in order to assess a situation or to make a sound judgement on an issue. No matter what nationality or what community you belong to, it is crucial to have access to detailed, balanced and accurate information. This is where media in different languages step in, this is also where ZpB can play its part.  

JB: How are ZpB's activities funded?

RS: The ZpB is an independent foundation, created in 2016. Our funds come from the ministry of education. ZpB has a board of 12 people, half of them working in Ministries, the other half being representatives from civil society. This board fixes the guidelines of ZpB’s work.

JB: Is there anything else you'd like to mention?

RS: We enjoyed the feedback we got so far from the English-speaking community. As our staff is mostly Luxembourgish, it is essential to us to carefully listen to the needs of non-Luxembourgish communities in order to provide the offer they need to get a better understanding of this place we all live in.

ZpB is a foundation promoting citizenship through a better understanding of democracy and current societal challenges. Its activities focus on learning, promoting understanding of democratic process and societal challenges and participation in political life.