What do you imagine a mentor to be like? Open-minded, patient, attentive, supportive, challenging – and usually older than you are. A transnational LEADER project is now turning this relationship on its head: in „Ju & Me Europe“, young people advise decision-makers from politics, public administration, business and voluntary organisations. In this way, they actively contribute their perspectives to regional development processes, not as those affected, but as active partners in shaping them.

The mentoring programme is based on a successful model from the German LEADER region of Leipziger Muldenland and has now also entered the implementation phase in the Mëllerdall region. An initial round of discussions took place on 8 September 2026 in the municipality of Fischbach. There, Mayor Lucien Brosius discussed with Sophie Diderrich, the young mayor of the neighbouring municipality of Nommern, and with Pitt Kirtz from the youth association how the municipality could better reach young people through its initiatives and motivate them to get involved in the community.

Further mentoring sessions will take place in the coming weeks in the communities of Aerenzdall, Nommern and Waldbillig.