You Feel Like You Exist
Almost two years ago, the National Committee of Social Defence opened Marga in Luxembourg City's Neudorf district, the country's first and only facility for women affected by drug addiction and other substance-use disorders. For the women who use it, Marga has become difficult to imagine life without.
Natascha, 24, says women tend to use considerably fewer drugs when they come to the centre, partly because it gives them something they rarely have on the street: the chance to properly rest and sleep. Outside, falling asleep can mean having belongings stolen, while some women have also experienced sexual harassment. "You know you can come here, fall into a deep sleep, and nothing will happen to you," she said. "That's incredibly important."
Today, Natascha comes across as a confident young woman with an easy smile. She is also the mother of a young son. But things were very different when she first arrived at Marga, she said. At the time, she was living on the street. She no longer uses drugs, now has a flat of her own, and is waiting to begin therapy. "They were there for me through the hardest time in my life."
A safe place that feels like home
The centre opens at 7:15am. Some women arrive from Abrigado's overnight shelter in Bonnevoie, where men and women affected by drug addiction can spend the night. Others come after spending the night working on the street and finally have the chance to sleep. Marga operates according to a simple principle: everything is possible, but nothing is compulsory. Coordinator Christine Seiwert said the centre allows women to rediscover elements of an ordinary daily routine. For women living on the street, one of the most valuable things Marga can offer is the opportunity to experience "a completely normal life" again.
Around 40 women have used the centre more or less regularly since it opened in December 2024. The highest number recorded in a single day was seven, which made for a very busy kitchen.