RTL Today - The Lisa Burke Show

Joining Lisa and Sasha in the Today Radio studios are the planners of Differdange's Fashion Week Luxembourg, sneaker savvy Today Radio presenter Steven Miller, and Laura da Silva – a fashion-forward nurse, tattoo artist and advocate for breast cancer support and awareness.

Starting with a review of the week’s global news with Sasha Kehoe, we discuss: 

US Election

Just one month away and Melania Trump has declared her support for a woman’s right to control her own body, including abortion.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/02/melania-trump-memoir-defends-abortion-rights

JD Vance, Donald Trump’s pick for vice-president, has indicated he would support a national abortion ban

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/17/politics/kfile-jd-vance-abortion-comments/index.html

Pelicot Trial Rape Case in France

The horrific mass rape trial of 71 year old Gisèle Pelicot continues, creating debate about the culture of male domination in France and across borders

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240927-french-rape-trial-sparks-timid-debate-about-masculinity

Teleworking no longer

Amazon now requires all employees to return to the office, sparking debate amongst many companies to rethink their working from home / office balance for maximum productivity  / employee satisfaction, especially when long commutes are a feature of working in Luxembourg for many.

Grand Duke Abdication

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume will officially assume the role of Lieutenant Representative on 8 October, as appointed by his father the Grand Duke. 

In September Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa moved to their Fischbach residency allowing their son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his family to take over Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg.

https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2207770.html

Real Art vs Posters

Scientists in the Netherlands using eye-tracking and MRI scans found an enormous difference between genuine works and posters. A neurological study revealed that real works of art in a museum stimulate the brain in a way that is 10 times stronger than looking at a poster. Commissioned by the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, home to Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, the independent study used eye-tracking technology and MRI scans to record the brain activity of volunteers looking at genuine artworks and reproductions.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/03/real-art-in-museums-stimulates-brain-much-more-than-reprints-study-finds

Fashion Week Luxembourg 

Livia Smith, Communication Strategist for Luxembourg Fashion Week talks about its growth from the starting point six years ago,  with Fabiola Puga still at the helm. This year there will be twelve national and international designers. Luxembourg Fashion Week hopes to become part of the cultural fabric of the hospitality and economy of Luxembourg. Livia also talks about her own use of fashion to help create confidence for someone who is naturally shy.

Max Felten,  Chief Economist and City Manager of Differdange returns to talks about why Differdange will, once again, host Luxembourg Fashion Week. Natalia Wrona, in charge of the promotion for Differdange City Management, explains the three different locations this year, including one at the International School in Differdange, celebrating all children, with two autistic children taking to the catwalk.

AquaSud Differdange is another of the three locations for the Fashion Week, and Céline Moreira, their Communication Manager, explains the difficulty in using an aquatic setting for a fashion show! Céline also talks about the link to Pink October and how emphasising the beauty in diversity.

A theme throughout today’s discussion is the power of self-acceptance,  and promotion of a positive body image regardless of challenges.

Laura da Silva overcame breast cancer ten years ago. Now, she spends her time between nursing at CHL and running her own business as an image consultant and tattoo artist, helping other women who have gone through breast cancer. She travels around with a pink chair, which is a reminder to those who have dealt with cancer that there is a lot of waiting and sitting, for both the patient, but also for their friends and family.

https://www.instagram.com/luxembourgfashionweek

My colleague, Steven Miller, a presenter at Today Radio is renowned in the office for his sneaker collector. Steven started his collection at the age of 15, peaking at 550 in 2017. He talks about sneaker collecting as an alternative investment, where ‘sneakerheads’ of this world are happy to spend thousands on one pair. Steven also loves Japanese streetwear designers, specialising in  minimalist but thoughtful creations.

Collector of sneakers since age 15 (peaking at 550 pairs in 2017)

Completed a course in ‘Sneaker Essentials’ with the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 2020; covering everything from history and design to  manufacturing and retail

Favoured fashion subject is Japanese designers and streetwear

Advocate for pre-loved/owned clothing and the Japanese art of ‘Sa-shiko’ (mending/repair)

Please do subscribe via Apple and / or Spotify. It would be great if you could rate and review too — as it helps others find the podcast.

Tune in to The Lisa Burke Show on Today Radio Saturdays at 11am, Sundays at noon, and Tuesdays at 11am.

Thoughts of a massage with four hands (two people) and 8–9 litres of oil sounds like utter bliss to me. And more, from Ayurveda Parkschlösschen.

Our roundup of the week’s news, with Sasha Kehoe, covers:

- Pope Francis’s visit to Luxembourg on such a wet Thursday and the much-noted coffee-shop visit

- Upcoming Austrian elections with a potential real far-right win

- Former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker addressing the ongoing rumours of his alleged alcoholism

- Pirate Party Defections

- Euthanasia in Switzerland - death in a Sarco capsule, which fills with nitrogen and causes death by hypoxia.

- A bit of light relief with Pesto the Penguin at an Australian aquarium home

Ayurveda Parkschlösschen and Nestwärme

Ayurveda Parkschlösschen is not too far away at the Mosel river in Traben-Trarbach and is an oasis for the over-worked.

Kathleen Landbeck is a naturopath and psychotherapist, who leads the Resilienz Retreat at Ayurveda Parkschlösschen. Maria Hebel is an Ayurvedic Practicioner at the centre.

Dirk Hense represents Nestwärme - a family relief network across Germany, Luxembourg and Austria for families with physically or mentally handicapped children; families that need to become resilient to cope with the realities of their day-to-day existence.

Ayurveda is an ancient holistic medical system which focusses on the human being as an individual, with individual problems and needs.

Each person is viewed in terms of their ‘dosha’ (body and personality type) to help us understand our personality type and traps.

Whatever one’s background or wealth, we face different challenges in life: burdens of work, relationships and health. We also face the burden of ourselves and the weight we put on ourselves through upbringing and culture around us.

We’ve certainly come to realise that physical health impacts mental health and our microbiome. At Parkschlösschen they try to reset the digestive tract and calm the nervous system with a series of many of the things we know ourselves: good food habits, sleep, meditation, yoga, and a digital detox.

We fall in to habits and traps, and in relationships:

“Partners are our gurus, especially when it's difficult”

Kathleen and Maria plus the team meet people as they arrive high on stress hormones.

We are not always conscious of what’s hurting us, or our unrealistic expectations. Why is it that we are so driven? Or can’t meet the standards set by ourselves or others? Kathleen tries to develop the self love muscle.

We learn about the Four Stages of Life:

- Learning stage - when we are students or apprentices

- Establishing stage through work and family; wealth creation

- Doing to being - mentoring and giving back

- Returning to our spiritual selves - retreating from the doing and rest in the being

- We also learn about the importance of boundaries to maintain our emotional and physical health, and also learn about the five different levels of being:

- Physical

- Vital force

- Mind - thoughts and emotions

- Intellect - more subtle and stable than the mind

- Bliss body - deep sleep, like in a meditation (or great sex!)

Nestwärme

Nestwärme helps families in a holistic way, fostering the feeling of community and diversity. It’s so easy to feel alone with not much ‘extra’ energy when faced with an on-going stressful family situation.

And this is not an insignificant number - about 2-5% of families are touched by this in western European countries.

The work is focused on health and wellbeing where the body follows the mind, plus the intrinsic need for belonging.

The motto is ‘me, then you, then we’. We cannot sacrifice too much of ourselves or we burnout.

Nestwärme have added 7 elements of building resilience:

- Self awareness

- Self regulation

- realistic optimism

- solution orientated

- orientation to future

- orientation to network

- Ability of acceptance

And they added the importance of humour

Resilience is a muscle that must be trained. They have built and e-learning platform which is available in English, German and French.

If you wish to contact any of these organisations you can fine Ayurveda Parkschloesschen here, https://www.ayurveda-parkschloesschen.de/en/homepage-english/

with a blog here https://gb.parkschloesschenblog.de/

They are also available on instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/ayurvedaparkschloesschen/

Kathleen is about to become a digital nomad, travelling the world with her work and has a website here. https://www.kathleenlandbeck.de/de

Nestwärme is available here https://www.nestwaerme.org/lu/ with their CareYoo programme here http://www.careyoo.org

The news stories can be found here:

https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2234922.html

https://apnews.com/article/austria-election-far-right-kickl-nehammer-9db1d6bebfd67d3225be787e34e0b13d

https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2233867.html

https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2232874.html

https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2234508.html

https://today.rtl.lu/news/science-and-environment/a/2234566.html

Career planning, as a student or an adult; plus the upcoming Science Slam in Luxembourg.

Arnit Dey has two more years of High School left before he and his cohort  of global students have to decide what to study, where to go and what to do with the first part of the rest of their adult lives.

Arnit himself was born in the UAE to an Indian family and now lives in Luxembourg. He feels that the upcoming decisions need to be spoken about more at this important juncture in life, which conflates education, peer and parental pressure and the simple heaviness of figuring out what to do in the future.

Anneke Hudson is the in-house careers advisor at St. George’s International School. Anneke is half-English, half-Dutch, born in Kenya, raised there, in Zambia, South Africa, Oman, North America and England and is raising her own family here in Luxembourg.  And so, she knows what it feels like to be a ‘3rd culture kid’, a married mother abroad and an expat parent.

Anneke first studied law and became an in-house banking solicitor in a City of London international corporate law firm. Quite quickly she realised this was not a career she enjoyed. After a gap to raise her children, Anneke took a Masters degree in Career Development and Coaching from the University of Warwick in the UK and became a registered Career Development Professional with the Career Development Institute in the UK.

At St. George’s International School she helps students think about the word ‘career’ to encompass the lifelong journey through life, learning and work.

“Your 'career' is the paid and unpaid roles which you undertake throughout a lifetime, including life roles, leisure activities, learning and work.”

There are six core career development skills, relevant for any age:

- Trying new things

- Understanding yourself

- Being open

- Reflecting

- Learning how to research

- Networking

These complement the six learning areas from the Career Development Institute Framework:

- Grow throughout life

- Explore possibilities

- Manage career

- Create opportunities

- Balance life and work

- See the big picture

Dr Ann Kiefer is a mathematician by training, working as a STEM Expert at the Luxembourg Centre for Educational Testing (LUCET) at the University of Luxembourg.

She leads a project called PITT (Programme for innovative teaching and training), where she develops science and maths lessons for secondary schools tailored to Luxembourg.

Ann is also highly involved with science communication, from designing a maths costume for the Manneken Pis in Brussels

to winning a number of science slams herself in Germany and Luxembourg. She also participates in Science Stand-Up Comedy

https ://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=HpcEsVI8ccc

Juan Aguilar is a digital archaeologist doing his PhD on the virtual recovery of a destroyed millennia-old cultural heritage site in Mosul, Iraq. Juan also won the Science Slam here in Luxembourg by explaining how he 3D-scanned and 3D reconstructed the presumed tomb of the Prophet Jonah which, until 2014, sat on an Assyrian palace

(IG: #nebiyunusdigitalarchaeologicalproject ).

He communicates his archaeological project work with short films. https://vimeo.com/829695470?share=copy

https://history.uni.lu/team-juan-aguilar/

Ann and Jan are part of the Luxembourg Science Slam organisation team which is open to all on Friday, 4th October at 7pm in Cercle Cité.

You can find the tickets here and videos of previous science slams here. 

https://scienceslam.uni.lu/

Tickets : https://www.echo.lu/en/experiences/luxembourg-s-science-slam-5fQsxu

Videos of previous slams : https://www.youtube.com/@luxdoc472/videos" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.lalibre.be/dernieres-depeches/belga/2020/07/20/des-chercheurs-de-la-vub-concoivent-un-costume-pour-manneken-pis-HJCWWYVOUNHLBIPMU6A2XDVM7Q/

to winning a number of science slams herself in Germany and Luxembourg. She also participates in Science Stand-Up Comedy

https ://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=HpcEsVI8ccc

Juan Aguilar is a digital archaeologist doing his PhD on the virtual recovery of a destroyed millennia-old cultural heritage site in Mosul, Iraq. Juan also won the Science Slam here in Luxembourg by explaining how he 3D-scanned and 3D reconstructed the presumed tomb of the Prophet Jonah which, until 2014, sat on an Assyrian palace

(IG: #nebiyunusdigitalarchaeologicalproject ).

He communicates his archaeological project work with short films. https://vimeo.com/829695470?share=copy

https://history.uni.lu/team-juan-aguilar/

Ann and Jan are part of the Luxembourg Science Slam organisation team which is open to all on Friday, 4th October at 7pm in Cercle Cité.

You can find the tickets here and videos of previous science slams here. 

https://scienceslam.uni.lu/

Tickets : https://www.echo.lu/en/experiences/luxembourg-s-science-slam-5fQsxu

Videos of previous slams : https://www.youtube.com/@luxdoc472/videos

Lisa, Sarah, and Vanessa gather in the Today Radio studio for Book Club's third instalment, sharing their very favourite summer reads - and they'd love to know yours!

This week's show is a deep chat on the books we've loved this summer. I'm joined by my colleagues Sarah Tapp and Vanessa Phelan. 

Here are some of the books we talk about:

When the Coffee gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Ann Patchett - all of her books!

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Do let us know what books you enjoy and if there are any in particular from this list that stand out to you.

British Ambassador Thomas opens up about her life - describing an unusual path towards a successful career in diplomacy, from early struggles with sexual harassment to her recent battle with thyroid cancer.

Fleur Thomas was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 21 April 2021.

Fleur Thomas's journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of diversity. Starting her career as a chartered surveyor, she faced sexual harassment from senior colleagues, forcing her to leave that path. This early experience, though traumatic, shaped her character and fueled her resolve. Instead of being defeated, Ambassador Thomas redirected her energy into academia, earning two master’s degrees while working as British Airways cabin crew.

The drive to succeed, rooted in a sense of not quite measuring up due to her less privileged background, propelled Fleur forward. This determination is a trait she shares with her grandmother, who, after being widowed with five children, fought for her family’s survival by securing a council house after she lost the family tied house upon her husband’s untimely death.

“I think Diversity of thought is super important."

Fleur's career in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) saw her rise to the role of Head of Exports, a position that underscored her ability to thrive in challenging, male-dominated environments. Her dedication to promoting gender balance and social mobility within the MoD, as well as her recognition of the importance of intersectional diversity, highlights her commitment to creating inclusive spaces.

“The modern UK is very diverse and we represent the modern UK”

Her role as Ambassador in Luxembourg brought unexpected challenges, including a cancer diagnosis. Ambassador Thomas experienced unusual fatigue for an extended period of time. After several rounds of tests, she was finally diagnosed with T2N0M0 papillary thyroid cancer.

Despite the diagnosis, her diary was incredibly full in the weeks surrounding the biopsy, diagnosis and first surgery. Fleur organised and attended His Majesty the King’s Coronation Event and His Majesty The Kings’ official birthday party, hosted a ministerial visit from the UK and attended several receptions before her second surgery in mid-July and eventual return to work in August.

Aside from such a heavy and constant workload, which Fleur seems to thrive on, she also finds time for many creative pursuits. Ambassador Thomas arrived in Luxembourg with about 200 cookbooks, enjoys foraging for recipes and also has needlepoint skills passed down by her mother. Alongside this, the residence contains models of fighter jets and a meteor air to air missile.

Fleur Thomas’s life example shows how a diverse background, one of thought and experience, can help create new communities within a changing face of civil servants.

From one News Director to another – after 32 years of news journalism, Guy Weber hands over to Luc Marteling, the new News Director of RTL.

Guy Weber started his career in radio. After a brief stint in PR for the steel works, he returned to RTL Television in June 1994 as a journalist. In 2017, he became Editor-In-Chief of the television division and then News Director. He retired in June of this year.

Luc Marteling has returned to RTL where he worked from 2008 to 2019. He left to become Director of the Center for the Luxembourgish Language and has now returned to RTL as its News Director.

Guy Weber talks about his many years as a ‘lone wolf’ and cautions the need to keep a distance from the deciders. He believes that journalists can have a positive impact on society.

He has worked across 20 elections and notable interviews include those with Yasser Arafat, Václav Havel and Lech Wałęsa. Guy talks about the journalist as an observer who must check their facts and always be a trusted source. They both talk about the way in which RTL needs to use different languages to connect with the population of Luxembourg.

Naturally, with the changing nature of how news media is consumed, we talk about the various platforms that need to be fed in an every quicker manner.

Guy will continue his journalism privately with a passion for cold case crime. This plus cycling and his beloved Liverpool football team.

Luc starts his role with a clear view to working on all that Guy has built and adapting to change in our media landscape using the variety of languages that Luxembourg lives and breathes.

The ‘Harmony Across Borders’ international choral competition is now open for entry, a tremendous opportunity for amateur choirs to perform female composers’ work in Cambridge and Ely in July 2026.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love music, and that I’ve been singing in choirs most of my life. When I move country, one of the first things I research are choirs. They’re an instant ‘in’ to a community, who share a universal passion for music making and making of music as a shared experience beyond oneself. Music, singing, deep breathing and the social context of a choir makes choral music a great healer.

Harmony Across Borders is an international choral competition and the first in the world to celebrate the works of female composers and arrangers. Its founder, Hilary Nicholls, is a life-long chorister, who has sung under the directorships of Sir David Willcocks, John Scott and Neil Ferris.

In this conversation, I’m also joined by Joanna Gill, who is an award-winning composer of choral, film, and TV music. Her music has been performed by a variety of prestigious ensembles including the BBC Singers, the London Symphony Chorus and the London Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, Gill was awarded the Cappella Nova Award for her piece commemorating 100 years since women received the vote. Recently, Joanna was commissioned by His Royal Highness, King Charles III, to write a Scottish folksong for Queen Camilla which was sung at the Honours of Scotland Service in July 2023 following the King’s Coronation.

Harmony Across Borders 

This competition welcomes amateur choirs of all ages and nationalities.

Choir size: 16 to 40 people.

Age categories: Under 18; 18 - 25 years; 25 years plus. 

The event will take place in Cambridge University with a variety of workshops, talks and concert performances over the first weekend in July 2026.

The final gala concert taking place in Ely Cathedral on Sunday 5 July 2026.

Celebrating the works of female composers

Due to known historic social constraints, a dominantly male voice permeated the cultural sphere. Currently about 7% of repertoire selected is written by female composers and yet there's a wealth of music out there, both historic and contemporary, which is worthy of attention and revival.

Cambridge and Ely - the location 

Cambridge will provide both a prestigious location and one with a strong choral tradition, giving a lifetime’s experience to choirs who wouldn’t ordinarily have that opportunity.

Fundraising

If you would like to donate to this event please get in touch with Hilary.

Instagram @harmony_across_borders

FB @harmnyacrossborders

X @hab2026" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.harmonyacrossborders.com/

Instagram @harmony_across_borders

FB @harmnyacrossborders

X @hab2026

https://www.joannagill.com/

Facing the end of life, often away from family if we are ex-pats, means we lean on others for support. Omega 90 is one such place, and through this conversation we discuss end of life preparation for ourselves and our loved ones.

My guests this week are: 

- Claire Jordan, who cared for a friend to the end, with the support of Omega house

- Nancy Burg, a volunteer at Omega 90

- Maurizio Cortesi, psychologist and volunteer

- Fabian Weiser, Finance and Administrative Director at Omega 90

Palliative care is often considered a taboo topic, typically only discussed when these life events hit us. Preparing for the end of life is not something we commonly talk about with family or friends, although the very need for preparation can, in fact, help hugely at a time when people are emotionally drained. This stigma can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, whether due to a lack of awareness about options or an unwillingness of others to face death with us.

Claire Jordan intimately shares her journey with Omega 90, recounting her friend Denise Clark’s battle with cancer. Through Denise's diagnosis and eventual transition, Omega 90 provided not just medical care but a sanctuary of peace and dignity. Claire reflects on the transformative experience of moving from the clinical setting of a hospital to the warm, supportive environment of Omega 90, likening it to “walking into a 5-star hotel”.

Nancy Burg and Maurizio Cortesi speak about the importance of confronting mortality openly and early, both when working within palliative care and for one's own well-being. Maurizio, drawing from his experience in grief counselling, discusses the unpredictable nature of grief, emphasising the need for environments where individuals can mourn without judgement.

 

Fabian highlights the importance of a will, not simply about where one's possessions but also about how we would like to pass in case we are unable to consciously make and/or communicate decisions. Examples of this range from euthanasia to power of attorney. 

Death inevitably affects everyone on this planet. The stigma surrounding this stage of life does not have to be so burdensome. By starting a larger conversation about it, the aim is to raise awareness of its importance and normalise the discussion. 

Palliative care is a very important last step of life for many. 

Find the link to the will from the omega website here and to donations and fundraising here.

https://www.omega90.lu/db/2/1432585784850/1

Rotary Hearts fundraise for childhood cancer and youth mental health issues. 

Rotary Hearts fundraise for childhood cancer and youth mental health issues.

My guests this week are:

Anne Goeres, Director Luxembourg Foundation for Children with cancer, Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner

Vinciane Grevesse – Governor-Elect of Rotary Club's District 2160 for 2024-2025

Anastasia Vanden Berghe - President of Rotary Club Luxembourg Hearts for 2024-2025

Pol Bertems - Project Manager at Arcus asbl.

Rotary Club Ambitions

The vision of the Rotary Club was born in 1905 with Paul Harris, an attorney in Chicago, to bring together professionals from diverse backgrounds in order to exchange ideas and form lifelong friendships.

Over time, Rotary expanded its scope to engage in humanitarian service, locally and globally.

Rotary members volunteer their time and skills across various focus areas, and with a global network of 1.4 million, the leverage potential to undertake impactful projects is substantial.

For instance, Rotary is a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a public-private partnership led by national governments and consisting of six core partners: the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Rotary Clubs in Luxembourg

Vinciane Grevesse has been a member of a Rotary Club since 2012 and is now Governor-Elect of Rotary Club's District 2160 for 2024-2025. Rotary District 2160, covers both Belgium and Luxembourg, comprising 68 Rotary Clubs and 5 Rotaract clubs (for young adults aged 18 to 30). Luxembourg has 14 Rotary Clubs and 1 Rotaract Club.

Vinciane tells us about the Zesummen Ennerwee (travelling together) project which takes place on the last Sunday of September. The idea is to offer people with disabilities a day filled with joyful experiences of movement. From boat and horseback rides to journeys in vintage cars, tractors, and even airplanes, the day is dedicated to sharing moments across land, air and sea.

English Speaking Rotary Hearts Club

Anastasia Vanden Berghe is President of Rotary Club Luxembourg-Hearts 2024-2025. Luxembourg-Hearts is the only English-speaking club in Luxembourg.

With the priority this year on children’s well-being and mental health related to children, Rotary Hearts are working with Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner for their Masquerade Charity Gala, on October 19th at Hotel Le Royale.

Website: https://luxembourg-hearts.rotary2160.org/en/

Event Website : https://rotary-hearts-2160.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/98062402/admin/feed/posts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rotaryhearts

Anne GOERES, Managing Director at the Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner, talks about their three core missions:

To help improve the physical and psychological condition of the child and their family

Raise awareness of childhood cancer and defend the children’s rights

Support actively onco-paediatric research by funding specific projects with one main goal: cure more children and cure them better.

One of Anne’s significant achievements is developing FIGHT KIDS CANCER, an annual European call for projects dedicated to accelerating paediatric oncology research. In 4 years, Fight Kids Cancer funded 30 research projects for more than 18 million euros and in 11 different childhood cancer types.

Childhood cancer is an umbrella term for more than 60 types of cancer that affect children and adolescents. Unlike adult cancers, which are often linked to lifestyle or environmental factors, the causes of childhood cancers are largely unknown. The most common types of childhood cancer include leukemia, brain tumours, and lymphomas.

Children with cancer face unique challenges due to their developing bodies and minds. Treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can significantly impact their growth and development. Additionally, the psychological and emotional toll on both the children and their families can be profound.

The Foundation supports the daily life of families in need : every child with cancer living in Luxembourg or of which at least one parent works in Luxembourg can benefit from their services, from the very first day of diagnosis on. This includes information and help for financial and social matters, therapeutic support and also educational and recreational programmes.

Fondatioun Kriibskrank Kanner is fully financed by donations.

You can help by participating in the charity run Letz Go Gold at the end of September and / or join the Rotary Club Luxembourg Hearts 10th Anniversary Masquerade Gala

This year, all funds raised from the gala will be dedicated to selected research programs on children's brain tumours.

www.fondatioun.lu

www.letzgogold.lu

Rotary Hearts Club also works with Arcus, as one of their aims is to help children’s mental health.

Pol Bertems, Arcus Project Manager, tells us more about the association.

Arcus is a non-profit organisation in social, educational, and therapeutic work, primarily focusing on children, youth and their families.

The "Kannerhaiser," operated by Arcus, are Children's Reception Centres that offer care and support to children and youth from challenging family backgrounds, often needing temporary separation from their parents. These centres create a safe, nurturing environment that focuses on health, academic growth, social and family bonds, autonomy, and structured daily routines. They also support children recovering from traumatic events and involve biological parents actively to strengthen family ties and provide educational guidance.

Arcus also provides specialized accommodation for children and youth with psychological and physical issues stemming from abuse or neglect, collaborating with child psychiatry experts for personalised therapies. A primary objective is to foster independence, particularly for youth aged 12 and older. The centres, spread across 18 living groups with over 136 spots, are located in various areas like Grevenmacher, Olingen, and Echternach, catering to children and teenagers aged 3 to 20 years.

The Animal Assisted Pedagogy and Therapy project at Kannerhaiser allows children to be surrounded by a range of animals, including horses, donkeys, sheep, alpacas, dogs, cats, chickens, and rabbits. These animals do not judge or hold prejudices, offering a unique, unbiased interaction for the youngsters, who often face judgment and bias in human interactions.

Working with animals can significantly boost children's self-confidence and trust in themselves and others. It also aids in their integration into group settings.

www.fondatioun.lu

www.letzgogold.lu

https://www.facebook.com/Arcus.asbl

https://www.instagram.com/Arcus_asbl/

https://www.Arcus.lu/

Website: https://luxembourg-hearts.rotary2160.org/en/

Event Website : https://rotary-hearts-2160.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/98062402/admin/feed/posts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rotaryhearts

Tom Weber was diagnosed as an adult with autism. We discuss his story, the resources available for people with autism in Luxembourg — along with information for the caregivers who support loved ones with autism.

My guests this week are: 

- Tom Weber, English - German translator, and published author

- Sabine Angelsen, Director CTSA, Centre pour enfants et jeunes

présentant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme

- Anne Wagner, CTSA - psychologist

- Nathalie Oberweis, Head of Learning & Development - Autism Luxembourg

- Aleks Panzone, co-founder of T'ees Iced Tea

Tom Weber, a colleague at RTL Today, catalysed the topic of autism for this show by writing about it himself when diagnosed as an adult aged 27. Through Tom’s awareness-raising of neurodiversity we explore what autism is, how it can present, and what help is available to caregivers and autistic people themselves in Luxembourg.

Tom eloquently describes his own personal story, the constant effort of masking, the dark periods and the changes to one’s self-perception when diagnosed late.

Tom Weber is an English-German translator and this lifestyle fits his requirements for a professional life very well, whilst also giving him time to pursue his own writing of prose and poetry. Tom is a published author and won first prize at the National Literary Competition in 2020.

Autism is a very broad spectrum of neurodiverse traits and is more common than we may think, says Anne Wagner, CTSA - psychologist. And yet, over diagnosis can be an issue since there are frequent co-morbidities that accompany autistic people (aggression, ADHD, anxiety, depression, psychosis, for instance).

There is a heightened rate of suicide amongst autistic people and a higher rate of divorce for the care-givers. Tom describes the pain of not being able to connect with people and how that can lead to deep depression, which could result in suicide if one doesn’t have a strong support network.

Sabine Angelsen and Anne Wagner work with children and their families at the Centre pour enfants et jeunes présentant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme (CTSA).  They see children at the point at which some form of issue has presented, but many children find ways to mask their difficulties in social settings.

Nathalie Oberweis, Head of Learning & Development at Autism Luxembourg, helps people to develop skills in a safe environment through their various workshops. They provide vocational training, education, and even a day-centre in Sandweiler. They also have some home-help services and a limited number of accommodation facilities.

The workplace can be quite traumatic for an autistic person. We discuss what measures an employer could put in place to help this type of mind.  It is often hard to ‘see’ neurodiverse issues; they can be thought of as ‘invisible handicaps’.

Aleks Panzone is just 23 years old and is the co-founder of T'ees Iced Tea. This (delicious) iced tea is produced by people with Autism in Luxembourg, aiming to raise awareness and supporting them by offering a safe working environment and decent wage. It is only made with local and natural ingredients; no added sugar and no artificial flavours. Aleks is helping people with autism live as fully integrated members of society.

https://just-thoughts.net/about/#:~:text=Tom%20Weber%20was%20born%20in,publishes%20books%2C%20mostly%20poetry%20collections.

www.autisme.lu

https://cc-ctsa.lu/

https://plantatea.com/

https://just-thoughts.net/2023/12/07/the-stranger-behind-my-eyes-27-years-undiagnosed-autistic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teesicetea/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/t-ees/?viewAsMember=true