Stengeforter Neiegkeeten N°116 - Février 2025

Nombre de téléchargement: 84

Portrait of Hortense Ostach

LSAP representative on Steinfort municipal council

Elected to the Steinfort municipal council at the last elections in 2023, Hortense Ostach has deep roots in our municipality. Born, raised and still living in Hagen, close to her family home, she embodies a strong and authentic link with her native village. She also shared her schooling, from nursery to primary 6, with the current mayor, Sammy Wagner. They now sit together on the municipal council at the town hall.

From a very young age, Hortense was actively involved in local municipality life, in particular with the Youth Club and the VC Steinfort. She continues to volunteer for various associations, including as secretary of the Entente des Sociétés de Steinfort. On the political front, she is President of the Steinfort LSAP section and chairs the advisory committee for safety, prevention and traffic. She is also a member of the advisory committees on buildings, the environment and soft mobility, enabling her to contribute her expertise and passion for improving local life.

Professionally, Hortense passed on her knowledge as South-West Regional Manager for CFL (Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois).

To better understand her background, her political aspirations and her vision for the future of our municipality, we asked Hortense a few questions.

Describe yourself in a few words.

Good-humoured, helpful, ambitious and fairly optimistic.

You were born and raised in Hagen, where you still live. How does this strong link with your home village influence your commitment to Steinfort municipal council?

The link with my home village and the municipality of Steinfort has given me a strong sense of community and unity, which I am committed to continuing to strengthen within the municipality.

Responding to the needs of residents and giving them a real voice is essential. That's why, as a member of the municipal council, I actively campaign for greater citizen participation.

How has your involvement in club life shaped your view of the role of the municipality in the daily lives of the people of Steinfort?

Club life has never been a problem for me, because I've been involved in it since I was very young.

I've learned that the municipality actively supports the clubs, playing an essential role in providing them with the infrastructure and resources they need to run smoothly.

Clubs play a central role in our municipality, bringing residents together and strengthening social ties. That's why it's vital that the municipality continues to support them.

What values and priorities do you wish to promote in your role as President of the LSAP section in Steinfort?

To build a fair, inclusive and sustainable community, where every citizen has the opportunity to fulfil his or her potential.

That's what civic participation is all about: giving everyone the opportunity to make an active contribution to the life of the municipality while encouraging people to get to know each other.

Professional life, political and community commitments, personal life: what motivates you on a daily basis and how do you manage to balance all these responsibilities?

It's true that it's not always easy to bring all the aspects together under one umbrella. Without support, whether private, political, voluntary or professional, it simply wouldn't be possible. Nobody can do it all on their own. It's precisely this reality that motivates me: working as part of a team allows us to tackle challenges together and bring collective projects to fruition.

What plans or proposals do you have to strengthen sustainable development and soft mobility (key issues for many municipalities) in Steinfort?

We already have a good public transport offer, but there is still room for improvement. The development of safe cycle paths would be an excellent way of encouraging the use of bicycles as a sustainable alternative to the car.

To reinforce sustainable development, dedicated workshops could be organised to keep residents up to date with the latest initiatives and solutions. This would give everyone the opportunity to make an active contribution.

By working together, we can build a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly community that not only promotes the well-being of our citizens, but also has a positive impact on the environment.

What major projects or changes do you hope to see in the municipality between now and 2026/2027, and how do you plan to contribute to them?

I'm looking forward to the completion of the new cultural centre project, which will benefit not only our associations, but also all local residents, who will be able to participate to all the great events. For my part, I will continue to listen to the needs of the clubs and actively support them.

At the same time, we must work together to ensure that the quality of life of every resident continues to improve, thanks to the implementation of ambitious, forward-looking projects.

In your opinion, how important is volunteering to social cohesion in Steinfort, and what measures or initiatives could be put in place to encourage volunteering and make it more attractive to our citizens, particularly young people?

Volunteering plays an essential role in social cohesion, enabling everyone to become actively involved in the life of their municipality.

Encouraging volunteering, particularly among young people, remains a challenge. However, in collaboration with the clubs, awareness campaigns can be run to motivate more people to get involved.

If you get involved and discover how rewarding it can be, you'll want to come back.

Hortense Ostach in private

What are 3 aspects of your life you wouldn't want to miss?

Health, gratitude and happiness

As long as you're healthy, you should be grateful for everything you have and enjoy life with everyone you love.

Are you an early riser or do you prefer to laze around at weekends?

Early risers make for a longer weekend

Train or bus?

Train

Active or passive member of a local association?

Active

Sea or mountains?

I can't decide between the two

Dog or cat?

Dog

Recycled or new?

It depends on the object, but if possible, then recycled.

Traditional books or digital tablets?

Traditional books

Summer um Weier or Chrëschtmaart?

Both have their charm, and I can be found at both events.

A glass of crémant or a good beer?

Clearly... a good beer

***

Personality of Steinfort:

Suzette Elsen-Mangen - Her heart beats for Burkina Faso

Her heart beats for Burkina Faso

A little history first: the Mangen family's roots in Steinfort go back to 1916, when the grandfather left Garnich for Steinfort as one of 13 children. He earned his living as a brick transporter and, with the money he had saved, was able to buy a plot of land at "op der Koll", where the family home still stands today (currently being renovated). He in turn had 8 children, one of whom was Suzette's father. Her mother came from what is now Café Roudemer. Apart from a short interruption, Suzette has always lived in Steinfort, and still does today.

Suzette spent her entire childhood in Steinfort before leaving for secondary school. At the age of 12, she went to boarding school at the Notre-Dame Sainte-Sophie public school in the city. In those days, getting there by bus every day was much less convenient than it is today. There she made lifelong friends, including Elvire Engel. To earn her pocket money, she cycled to Useldange to work as a waitress in a restaurant. It was there that she met Jos, the man who was to become her husband. In those days, it was common to marry young so that you could be together. And so Suzette married in 1968, aged just 19. Their marriage finally lasted 52 years.

The newlyweds lived in the city for 4 years, until the flat eventually became too small. At weekends, she took the bus back to Steinfort, where she was actively involved, especially with the current "Deckelmouken" scouts, as leader of the "Wichtelcher". In 1973, Suzette and her family, which now included two little girls, returned to Steinfort for good. When her father fell ill, her husband took over the Mangen family business. However, for Suzette, an ambitious and independent woman (and still is today), working alongside her husband in the company was not an option. She wanted to follow her own professional path.

Suzette, an independent woman

It was at the height of the feminist movement, an era marked by the fight for women's emancipation and the transformation of their relationships with men. At a time when many women wanted to break out of the traditional role of stay-at-home mum and have a career, Suzette was one of those who took the plunge. When her daughters were old enough to be on their own, she became fully involved in the world of work.

In 1982, she took up the challenge offered by Charel Kieffer, founder of the CK Group, which has been based in Steinfort since 1946. The group is currently active in the fields of business support for companies and sports well-being. At that time, Charel had just opened the CK Sportcenter in Kockelscheuer, then the largest sports centre in Europe. The aim was to make the complex popular with a Luxembourg public unaccustomed to using such facilities for training, whether for tennis, pétanque or other sporting activities. Despite the difficulty of the challenge, Suzette quickly made her mark. With her team, she developed and diversified the centre's activities, launching new fitness areas and an office complex. In just three years, she proved her worth and became Charel Kieffer's right-hand woman, before gradually increasing her role within the company as a shareholder. In 2002, she officially took over the management of the CK Group, a position she held until her well-earned retirement in 2024. Today, the group employs 200 people, and her two daughters, Laure and Annemie, have taken over: Laure for the business solutions division and Annemie for the sports wellness division. Suzette remains a leading figure, however, holding the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of several CK Group entities.

When the Fend grocery shop in the centre of Steinfort, opposite the old school (now the Bierger*Haus), was in danger of closing down in the late 1980s, Suzette decided to take it over. With the help of the women in the municipality, she managed to keep the shop going, convinced of the importance of such a service in the daily lives of the local people. Even her daughters got involved, helping out in the shop during school holidays.

Far from being satisfied with her professional achievements, Suzette was also committed to supporting other women in their personal and professional development. In 1991, she joined Soroptimist International Luxembourg - Clairefontaine Service Club. Soroptimist International (from the Latin sorores optimae / in English "sisters for the better") is an international organisation dedicated to promoting women's rights, education, equal opportunities and peace. Founded in 1921, the Soroptimist Club now has around 70,000 members worldwide. Suzette is still an active member. She helped to co-create Club Soroptimist - Ouagadougou. The two clubs still maintain strong friendly relations and together support various projects in Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso and the Dr Elvire Engel Foundation

Thanks to Charel Kieffer, Honorary Consul of Burkina Faso since 1970, Suzette discovered and fell in love with this African country, one of the poorest in the world. During a mission there, she had the opportunity to explore the country with an NGO already active in the region and to see for herself the problems facing the country. Burkina Faso, a country of over 23 million people, is 80% rural, with extreme drought and arid soils, no resources of its own and no access to the sea. The country is disadvantaged in every way. Faced with this reality, Suzette immediately felt she had a mission: to help the inhabitants.

Her enthusiasm for Burkina Faso also inspired her friends. Together with her long-time friend Elvire Engel, now a gynaecologist who had been diagnosed with cancer, they set about visiting the country in depth, analysing the needs on the ground and devising concrete projects in key areas such as agriculture, education and health. When Elvire knew she was going to die, she decided to invest everything she had in projects for Burkina Faso to make them a reality. In early 2004, Elvire gathered her friends around a plate of cheese and a glass of wine to share her idea: to create a foundation dedicated to helping the most vulnerable populations, especially women and children. The Dr Elvire Engel Foundation was officially launched on 17 March 2004. Elvire died a few months later, on 19 August 2004, and Suzette took over as president. On the same day, water was discovered on the foundation's land in Burkina Faso, a sign of hope for the foundation's members.

The NGO's mission is to develop health and education projects in Africa, and particularly in Burkina Faso, combining material and financial aid. Its flagship projects, each lasting around 2 years, include the resocialisation of HIV-positive women, the construction of the Dr Catherine Huberty maternity hospital in Fara, the building of a high school with boarding facilities for girls in Poura, the construction of a secondary school in Kaya, etc. The NGO is now active in more than 70 villages, raising awareness of key issues such as sustainable agriculture. Those trained are encouraged to pass on their knowledge to their communities, thus promoting long-term autonomy. In terms of health, the foundation encourages pregnant women to go to maternity clinics in case of complications and to give birth if necessary. In one year alone, this work resulted in more than 5,000 consultations and 814 births. The foundation has now been active for 20 years and continues to work with the same local partner.

Every penny is welcome, every donation counts!

Thanks to the generosity of many donors - mainly relatives and family members, but also residents of the municipality - and the support of the Luxembourg government, the NGO has been able to carry out numerous projects over the years to improve the lives of the people of Burkina Faso. To date, the foundation has not needed Elvire's financial inheritance, which is seen as a real opportunity. Over time, it has also been able to attract new, committed volunteers. Every event organised in the municipality and every call for donations is followed by an exemplary response. The local clubs (Adventsgrupp Hoen-Klengbetten, Deckelsmouken, Péckvillecher, FC Stengefort, Aktikulti, etc.) and other volunteers are always there with enthusiasm! For Suzette, this unwavering support is deeply moving. As for the Foundation, it is eternally grateful for these contributions, which make all the difference.

"As far as satisfaction is concerned, Burkina Faso has a lot of it. They have a positive outlook, they're all happy, but that's also because they have nothing to compare it to. They're all friendly, they smile. When you're there, you wonder who's giving what to whom here, (...) it's so beautiful.”

More information about the Dr Elvire Engel Foundation can be found online.

Fun fact: Suzette has a special passion for owls! From an early age, she has been interested in these fascinating animals, of which there are no fewer than 270 species around the world. What particularly struck her is the way owls behave as parents. The devoted father spends his days searching for food for his young. And when they grow up, this relentless role eventually wears him out. Over the years, she has increased her knowledge of these birds by reading many books. At home, Suzette has her collection of owls, in all shapes and sizes, scattered around the house. But be careful: each owl has its own specific place!