Call for Volunteers to Fight Isolation

The City of Differdange is relaying an appeal launched by the municipality of Sanem, which, in partnership with the Luxembourg Red Cross, is seeking volunteers to join the Iris service. This service, whose main objective is to fight social and emotional isolation, invites all interested people to participate in a training program beginning in April.

What is the Iris service?

The Iris service is an initiative of the Luxembourg Red Cross, which aims to improve the health and quality of life of the population by fighting loneliness. According to scientific studies, social isolation is as harmful to health as alcohol, tobacco, or being overweight, and can have a direct impact on depression, cognitive decline, or various cardiovascular diseases.

Currently, about 70 volunteers, supervised by psychologists, regularly dedicate their time to visiting isolated individuals. These weekly meetings allow for sharing a coffee, taking a walk, or simply chatting, thus creating essential social bonds.

How to become a volunteer?

To join this wonderful initiative, you must:

• be of legal age
• be available for two to three hours per week
• commit for a minimum period of two years
• demonstrate tolerance and empathy
• complete a basic twenty-hour training course (in Luxembourgish), which will be held in the southern part of the country

This training will cover topics such as loneliness, communication, aging, and the role of the volunteer. It will be conducted by a competent team and will prepare you as well as possible.

An initiative open to all

The call is addressed to anyone interested. The Iris service seeks to build a strong network of volunteers throughout the country.

If you wish to offer your time to contribute to a more supportive society, do not hesitate to contact the Iris service.