Student Exchanges Build Bridges Between US & Luxembourg
Marc Zimer, a teacher at Lënster Lycée International School and board member of Roots and Leaves, launched a transatlantic student exchange program connecting Luxembourgish schools with American schools located in regions with strong Luxembourgish heritage. The idea emerged during a 2017 family road trip around Lake Michigan, where he visited the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS) in Wisconsin. Recognizing an opportunity to bridge historical and contemporary connections, Zimer initiated a pilot exchange with Aquinas High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 2018. The program expanded quickly, with Central High School joining soon after, and now includes partnerships with about a dozen schools on both sides of the Atlantic.
Participating Luxembourg schools are paired with American schools across several states, including Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Arizona. Each school manages its own exchange activities, while Zimer provides initial guidance and helps facilitate communication. Monthly Zoom meetings offer students aged 16 to 18 the chance to connect and collaborate ahead of their trips. Financial support comes from Luxembourg’s Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, which covers flights, while additional costs are kept low through sponsorships and host family accommodations, making the experience accessible at an estimated cost of €400 to €600 per student.
The program goes beyond traditional exchange activities by also fostering cultural initiatives, such as developing a heritage trail in Chicago in collaboration with Loyola University. Additionally, LACS and Roots and Leaves facilitate biannual trips to Luxembourg for American visitors to explore the country and manage administrative tasks like passport renewals. In June 2025, 30 visitors from the US will be in Luxembourg, participating in joint activities with local schools and university students, further deepening the historical and cultural bonds between the two nations.
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