Winter 2026
“The present is not a potential past; it is the moment of choice and action.”
Simone de Beauvoir
Education and solidarity lie at the heart of Europe’s spirit. They shape our democracies, sustain our freedoms, and remind us that knowledge must always serve understanding. To engage as a citizen is to learn, to question, and to act with a sense of shared responsibility. By nurturing curiosity and dialogue, we strengthen not only our institutions, but the very idea of Europe itself. Now more than ever, these universal virtues hold profound significance. This year’s Philanthropy Letter is devoted to exploring how education and engaged citizenship serve as a powerful catalyst for empowerment – particularly in uncertain times. Our keynote contributor, Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR Representative in Brussels for EU Affairs in Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, and the Netherlands, shares insights from his extensive firsthand experience supporting vulnerable communities across Europe and the world. In this interview, he reflects on the role that dialogue and civic engagement play in fostering resilience and shared responsibility amongst peoples. Further upstream, the founders of the Fondation Pierre Werner, under our aegis, continue to invest in Europe’s future thinkers through the Pierre Werner Scholarships. By honouring their father’s esteemed legacy as a former Prime Minister of Luxembourg and deeply committed European, they empower outstanding doctoral students who explore some of the most pressing issues in Europe. In these pages, we highlight the work of two 2025 laureates and share reflections from Marie-Anne Werner on the foundation that bears her father’s name. Investing in the next generation extends far beyond the classroom. For many, safeguarding the planet for future generations is just as vital – a commitment increasingly shared by responsible businesses. In this spirit, four corporate donors to the Fondation pour le Climat, operating under our aegis, reflect on their motivations for supporting this essential cause. In an era defined by complexity and interconnection, education remains our best antidote to misinformation and apathy. As our keynote contributor reminds us, complacency and complicity are no longer an option. Wishing you a pleasant reading, Tonika Hirdman
2 How humanitarian aid is adapting under pressure with Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR Representative 4 Supporting the next generation of European thinkers via the Pierre Werner Scholarship
6 Creating your own foundation with the Fondation de Luxembourg 8 Corporate donors to the Fondation pour le Climat share their motivations