{"id":6325,"date":"2026-02-10T10:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T09:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bilstories.com\/?p=6325"},"modified":"2026-04-15T10:11:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T08:11:57","slug":"local-initiatives-that-matter-la-trace-sis-02004","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bilstories.com\/en\/local-initiatives-that-matter-la-trace-sis-02004\/","title":{"rendered":"Local initiatives that matter: La Trace SIS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
2025 saw the launch of the first \u201cBuilding Tomorrow Together\u201d call for projects by BIL, with the aim of supporting local initiatives that reflected the Bank\u2019s values and had a tangible impact within Luxembourg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this report, we met with Andr\u00e9e Birnbaum and Franck Chabriac, founders of La Trace SIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
La Trace SIS<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
La Trace (\u201cThe Trail\u201d in English) uses animal-assisted therapy to provide educational and therapeutic support, offering people in difficult circumstances (young people in care, people with disabilities, people suffering from serious illnesses, etc.) the opportunity to forget about their worries for a while by participating in animal-related activities such as dog walking, event hosting, caring for the animals, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Our main goal is to enable everyone, especially those who may be going through a difficult time, to overcome these situations, find the motivation and resources they need to get better, and bring about change in their lives through animal-assisted therapy.\u201d (Franck Chabriac)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the activities organised in Luxembourg\u2019s Ardennes, La Trace also arranges expeditions with sled dogs in Finnish Lapland. These immersive trips are aimed at participants from all walks of life (young people in need, but also those interested in solidarity tourism) and offer the opportunity to disconnect from everyday life while enjoying new experiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to finance these projects, La Trace offers leisure activities that have the principles of solidarity tourism at their heart, including nature discovery trails, hiking with dogs and Finnish-themed evenings, as well as coaching, training and team building sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Financial support from BIL<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\nFranck Chabriac, Andr\u00e9e Birnbaum and Jeffrey Dentzer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The grant provided by BIL was used to fund the purchase of a new hospitality tent \u2013 a welcoming space that will be used to organise coaching sessions and educational schemes to serve as an additional offering on top of the outdoor animal-based activities<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
The financial support provided to local players is part of BIL\u2019s general sponsorship policy, which aims to support initiatives with a meaningful impact on Luxembourg society. BIL\u2019s commitments in the fields of education, entrepreneurship, culture and sport are testament to the bank\u2019s desire to play its part in driving the country\u2019s dynamic spirit<\/p>\n\n\n\n