Last Saturday, the Wëlle Westen LEADER region celebrated: Ten years ago, the municipalities of the canton of Redingen and the municipality of Mertzig joined forces with associations and companies from the region to form a joint LEADER region.

The anniversary programme offered variety and insights: after the reception by Christiane Thommes-Bach, President of the LEADER group, in the amphitheatre of Grevels primary school, the first stop was Bilsdorf. There, the guests visited the ceramics studio, which was established in the 1990s as part of a LEADER project. The tour then continued to Beckerich to the Camille's Gaartwhere LEADER Wëlle Westen had an apple tree planted in honour of the late politician Camille Gira. In a symbolic gesture, the mayors of the nine member municipalities each hung a felt apple on the still bare branches.

During the bus journey, the mayors themselves provided entertainment: with anecdotes and memories, they reported on LEADER projects that have had a lasting impact on their communities.

The festive conclusion took place in the barn of the Musée Thillenvogtei in Rindschleiden. In her speech, Minister of Agriculture Martine Hansen emphasised that although the Wëlle Westen is the LEADER region with the fewest inhabitants, the most projects were implemented in the 2014-2022 funding period - impressive proof of the extraordinary commitment of the population and the municipalities' attachment to the LEADER initiative.