For Charel Heim, it was a matter of course to meet up at Lake Echternach for a chat. He grew up here and spent countless hours with friends as a child. And he still likes to come back here today - to walk his dog, to take a deep breath, to have a coffee. However, the young lawyer hasn't had much time to pause recently. But he is used to that: he started his career in a US commercial law firm in Luxembourg City. „The cliché ‘work hard, play hard“ was certainly true at the beginning,„ he says with a smile. “I worked a lot and often went out partying with my colleagues afterwards. We had a good time." He also met his partner at his first employer, who eventually moved to Echternach with him and their husky Sky. Charel Heim is currently reorganising his career: he wants to become a self-employed notary.
So that young people don't move away
He is particularly keen to show other young people that the Mëllerdall region has just as much to offer as the capital. „You might not always be able to reach everything on foot, but if you want to experience something, you can do that here too. For example, there are more than 150 events in Echternach every year.“
However, this requires local commitment. Charel Heim sits on the Echternach municipal council and has been a member of the LSAP for ten years. When his party colleague Luc Birgen retired from politics, he took his place. He had already experienced first-hand the passion with which his predecessor had carried out the office of LEADER President.
„I realised early on what a strong impact LEADER has in the region. Before the handover, we talked intensively about what works well and should definitely be retained - and where there is room for improvement.“
LEADER relies heavily on voluntary work. Charel Heim is convinced that projects need to be approved much more quickly and administrative processes need to be simplified so that this willingness does not dwindle. At the same time, he questions whether too many institutions are now dealing with the same challenges.
For him, one thing is certain: an initiative like LEADER must continue to evolve. The needs in rural regions are changing, the population is growing and becoming more diverse. A participatory instrument such as LEADER must respond to this.
In addition to his role as LEADER President, Charel Heim is a member of the Finance Commission and the Culture and Tourism Commission of the town of Echternach. As a business lawyer, he attaches particular importance to forward-looking budget planning. At the same time, he is committed to creative projects - such as the „La vie à Echternach“ exhibition in the Trifolion. Pupils from the Echternach Lyceum took an artistic look at everyday life in the abbey town. 128 works were created, which were auctioned off in aid of UNICEF.
„I would like to see the five LEADER regions move even closer together.“
Charel HEIM sees the strength of LEADER in the idea of COOPERATION
Heim sees the so-called mini-projects as an effective means of getting citizens interested in LEADER. They make it possible to provide uncomplicated and quick financial support for ideas that have a direct impact on the quality of life in the villages.
What are Charel Heim's plans for his presidency? „I would like to see the five LEADER regions move even closer together. Each region has its own identity, each local action group works a little differently and faces its own challenges - so it is all the more important to pull together. Only in this way can the LEADER approach in Luxembourg survive in the long term and continue to find support. Even though we are still in the middle of a funding period, now is the right time to think about the future. For my region, I would like to continue to see innovative projects that bring new dynamism.“
Whether immigrants, families with children or young people who - like him - are returning to the country after their studies: They should find an attractive environment here. Text and photos: Martine Hemmer
