Luxembourg's new ambassadors for integration

(CS) Some 202 men and women were awarded a certificate on Wednesday for successfully completing their Welcome and Integration Contract.

The contract is offered by Luxembourg's Welcome and Integration Office (OLAI) and offers access to language training, civics courses and an orientation day. The contract is valid for a period of two years upon signature and is open to all foreign nationals aged 16 or over, legally living in Luxembourg.

It is hoped that through the contract, signatories will be able to better integrate into the country, by learning its languages, as well as finding out more about customs and traditions, but also the political landscape.

Since it was launched in October 2011, a total of 3,490 people representing 128 different nationalities signed the contract. Wednesday marked the third time that certificates were awarded for the succesful completion of the programme.

Family and Integration Minister Corinne Cahen at the ceremony, hosted at Neimënster, congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to become ambassadors for integration in Luxembourg.

She said that the participants had shown their desire to take part in Luxembourg life, also by recognising the importance of learning the local languages.

Of the almost 3,500 people who have signed the contract, just over half opted to sign up for French classes (52 percent), ahead of the number of people wanting to learn Luxembourgish (42 percent).

Almost two thirds of non-nationals joining the programme were women, while 56 percent came from within the EU and nearly two thirds were aged between 25 and 73.

For more information about the Welcome and Integration Contract visit olai.lu