This article was originally published in issue No. 38 (Spring 2024) of KACHEN magazine.
The protected workshops set up in 1977 in the Kräizbierg area of Düdelingen are one of Luxembourg’s most important social institutions for integrating people with disabilities into the labour market. It is the country’s largest facility of this type, offering a wide variety of job opportunities and actively supporting its employees to play a full role in society.
“Our aim is to identify the right space for each individual based on their capabilities and skills,” explains Workshop Manager, Marc Bissen, while giving us a tour of the workshops. The accounting workshop clearly illustrates this principle, with specially adapted workspaces allowing all employees, including those with physical disabilities, to perform their duties efficiently. “Each employee is assigned to a specific workshop,” he adds. “However, we also encourage them to look beyond their current activities and move to other workshops that might interest them.”
Technology meets creativity
In the multimedia workshop, seven people are busily digitising analogue data media. Everything from 8mm and Super 8 film rolls to slides, negatives, photos, VHS videos, vinyl records and CDs can be conveniently digitised here for customers on USB sticks or hard disks. “Demand is so high that new customers have to wait a few months before we can deal with their requests,“ says one employee proudly.
Alongside this, the silkscreen printing workshop shows how craftsmanship and modern technology can be combined to produce unique customised prints and posters.”We can meet virtually any customer brief with our modern equipment,“ says the workshop supervisor.
An iconic ceramic design
One of the workshops’ most successful projects arose from a collaboration with the architecture firm Metaform known for designing the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. This led to the design of the ‘Möbino’ espresso cup, which is produced here in the pottery workshop. “We’re keen to show that we’re capable of producing marketable products! The quality of the goods we produce here is outstanding, so this collaboration was a fantastic opportunity to show what we can do!“ says Marc Bissen. Other items produced here besides the cups include funeral urns, sculptures and the iconic ‘Péckvillercher’ bird-shaped whistles made every year for the Nospelt Emaischen craft festival.
Green spaces and sustainability
The large greenhouse in the market garden workshop is packed with flowers and greenery despite the wintry temperatures on the day of our visit. The flowers, herbs and ornamental plants nurtured here are extremely popular with the local community.
Meanwhile, in the embroidery workshop, little works of art are being produced under employees’ deft hands with the gentle hum of sewing machines in the background. As well as creative designs for T-shirts and bags, this section also takes on custom jobs like company logos for workwear. “Sustainability is very important to us,“ the workshop supervisor tells us. “We always try to put any leftover material to best possible use. We also work with Fairtrade Luxembourg on the ‘Rethink Your Clothes’ campaign.”
Our visit to Kräizbierg highlights the importance of the role played by protected workshops. Not only do they provide vital social assistance; these creative hubs also deliver premium goods and services, while also valuing and fostering employees’ potential.
